Bible Commentaries
Psalms 148

Verses 1-14

Psalms 148:0

Theme - Psalms 148:0 gives us a foreshadowing of what it will be like in Heaven. There will be praise unto God proceeding from every part of God’s creation. Those who have visited Heaven and returned to earth to testify of its beauty tell us how even the flowers seem to reach up to God in praise to him. The animals also seem to worship him with their chatter. Everything in heaven was created to praise the Lord.

Jack Taylor calls this psalm a roll call for creation to praise the Lord. Psalms 148:1-6 tells the heavenly creation to praise the Lord. Psalms 148:7-12 tell the earthly creation to praise the Lord. Psalms 148:13-14 tell the heavens and the earth to praise the Lord together. [131]

[131] Jack Taylor, “Sermon Series on Praise,” Southcliff Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, September, 1982.

Note the praise that comes from a man's heart as he sees the revelation of an almighty, eternal God from viewing His creation. Romans 1:19-20 tells us that God is revealed in His creation.

Romans 1:19-20, “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

Psalms 148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.

Psalms 148:5 “for he commanded, and they were created” Comments - In the first chapter of Genesis, the Hebrew verbs are in the imperative when God speaks to His creation. Thus, when God speaks, He literally commands, as this Psalms declares.

Genesis 1:3, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

Scripture References - Note a similar verse:

Isaiah 45:12, “I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded .”

Psalms 148:6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

Psalms 148:6 “he hath made a decree which shall not pass” - Comments - Just as parades, other of man’s organizing have themes, creation's theme throughout eternity will be “Praise the Lord forever and ever.”

Psalms 148:8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

Psalms 148:8 “Fire, and hail” - Illustrations God rained fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24). God appeared to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3:2). God rained down hail and fire upon the Egyptians during the ten plagues (Exodus 9:23). God led the children of Israel through the wilderness with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). God descended upon Mount Sinai in a cloud of smoke and in fire (Exodus 19:18; Exodus 24:17). Fire came out from the altar and devoured Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron (Leviticus 10:2). Fire consumed the rebellious Jews in the wilderness (Numbers 11:1). Fire consumed two hundred and fifty men that offered incense before the Tabernacle (Numbers 16:35). Thus, Moses described God as “a consuming fire.” (Deuteronomy 4:24). God send giant hailstones down upon the Canaanites during Joshua’s conquest (Joshua 10:11). Elijah commanded fire to come down from heaven and consume the troop of soldiers on two occasions (2 Kings 1:10; 2 Kings 1:12). Fire consumed the sacrifices of Moses (Leviticus 9:24), Samson’s father Manoah (Judges 13:18), King David (1 Chronicles 21:26), King Solomon (2 Chronicles 7:1), and Elijah (1 Kings 18:38). During the tribulation, God will rain down great hail upon mankind (Revelation 16:21).

Genesis 19:24, “Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;”

Exodus 3:2, “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.”

Exodus 9:23, “And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.”

Exodus 13:21, “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:”

Exodus 19:18, “And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.”

Exodus 24:17, “And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.”

Leviticus 10:2, “And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.”

Numbers 11:1, “And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.”

Numbers 16:35, “And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.”

Deuteronomy 4:24, “For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.”

Joshua 10:11, “And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.”

2 Kings 1:10, “And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.”

2 Kings 1:12, “And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.”

Leviticus 9:24, “And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.”

Judges 13:19, “So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on. For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.”

1 Chronicles 21:26, “And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.”

2 Chronicles 7:1, “Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.”

1 Kings 18:38, “Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.”

Revelation 16:21, “And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.”

Psalms 148:8 “stormy wind fulfilling his word” Illustrations Perhaps the greatest example of the stormy wind fulfilling God’s Word is seen in the story of Jonah, where God allowed a great wind to come upon the sea and trouble Jonah’s boat. This wind immediately ceased when Jonah was thrown overboard. Also, an east wind brought the plague of locusts upon the Egyptians (Exodus 10:13). God parted the Red Sea with a strong east wind (Exodus 14:21).

Exodus 10:13, “And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.”

Exodus 14:21, “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.”

Psalms 148:14 He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalms 148:14 “He also exalteth the horn of his people” - Comments - He also raised up a horn for his people, i.e., Jesus (Luke 1:69).

Luke 1:69, “And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;”

God has always exalted a righteous nation (Proverbs 14:34). God exalted the nation of Israel during the righteous reigns of David and Solomon. During the history of the church, God has exalted Germany, the UK, and the USA during the periods of their righteous leadership.

Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”