Bible Studies:What does Psalm chapter 150 mean?
Chapter Context
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.
What does Psalm chapter 150 mean?
The last song in Scripture's collection of psalms is a broad call. All living things are to use all methods to make wor-shipful praise of the Lord God. The text includes instruments of wind, strings, metal, percussion, voice, and even danc-ing.
First, the psalmist gives reasons that the Lord ought to be praised. He is the eternal (Isaiah 40:28; Colossians 1:16–17) Creator (Psalm 8:3–4; 19:1) seated in heaven (Deuteronomy 4:39) on His throne (Psalm 11:4). His miracles (Exodus 3:19–20; 14:21–22; Romans 16:27), intervention (Psalm 44:1–3; 78:2–4; Ezra 2:1), and divine attributes (Exodus 34:6–7; Job 42:2; Romans 11:33) all make him worthy of worship (Psalm 150:1–2).
Last, the song lists many methods of music in which the Lord can be praised. The references in-clude a wide variety of stringed, struck, and breath-operated instruments. This suggests that any means mankind might de-vise is worthy for use in worship. What matters is the intent behind the sounds (Psalm 95:1; 98:6; 100:1). Along those lines, dancing and singing—even the noise of animals—can be praises directed to the Lord. The psalm, and the en-tire collection of psalms, fittingly ends with the Hebrew phrase translated as "hallelujah," meaning "praise the Lord!" (Psalm 150:3–6).
