Psalm 150:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!

NIV: Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.

NASB: Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

CSB: Praise him for his powerful acts; praise him for his abundant greatness.

NLT: Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness!

KJV: Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

NKJV: Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

To direct the people's praise (Psalm 150:1), the psalmist focuses on two themes regarding God. First are the incredible things which the Lord has done (Psalm 78:2–4). His amazing creation (Psalm 8:3–4; 19:1), miracles (Exodus 3:19–20), and intervention (Psalm 44:1–3) demonstrate His power. Israel's history includes moments such as the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:41), the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21–22), the establishment of the Davidic kings (2 Samuel 7:12–16), the return of Israelites from exile in Babylon (Ezra 2:1), and the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 6:17).

The second theme is a brief summary of the Lord's divine attributes. He is the measure of everything good and true (Exodus 34:6–7). His miracles are proof of His superior nature (Romans 1:20). He is also eternal (Isaiah 40:28), all-knowing (Romans 11:33), all-powerful (Job 42:2), and uncreated (Colossians 1:16–17).

Today, Christians can celebrate God's profound work in their own lives. This involves our salvation (Romans 5:8), preservation (John 10:27–28), sanctification (1 John 3:2–3), and provision for our needs (Matthew 6:33). Those who have been saved (John 3:16–18) benefit from a relationship with the One and only Creator (John 1:3).

Psalm 150:1–2 gives reasons why the Lord ought to be praised. God is the One worshipped in Israel's temple (Psalm 73:17), though He is "seated" in heaven (Psalm 11:4). He is the Creator (Genesis 1:1). He has done in-credible things for His people (Psalm 78:2–4). Everything about His nature is worthy of worship and admiration (Psalm 29:1–2; 148:13).

This song uses a poetic form of repetition, calling for worship of the Lord. God should be praised for His attributes and mira-cles. All forms of instruments and singing should be included in this celebration. This psalm begins and ends with the He-brew phrase often translated into English as "hallelujah!"

This song completes the biblical collection of psalms, which traditionally has five divisions. These are Psalm 1—41, 42—72, 73—89, 90—106, and 107—150. Each "book" division ends with an exclama-tion of praise (41:13; 72:18–19; 89:52; 106:48). The last five songs of this "book" each begin and end with the term halelu-yāh, literally meaning "praise the Lord!" The text broadly describes all manner of instruments, indicating that worshipful praise can take many forms and styles.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.