Psalms 148

¹Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

Psa 148:1-14. The scope of this Psalm is the same as that of the preceding. 1. heavens [and] heights--are synonymous.

²Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

2. hosts--(compare Psa 103:21).

⁴Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

4. heavens of heavens--the very highest. waters--clouds, resting above the visible heavens (compare Ge 1:7).

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

5. praise the name--as representing His perfections. he commanded--“He” is emphatic, ascribing creation to God alone.

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

6. The perpetuity of the frame of nature is, of course, subject to Him who formed it. a decree ... pass--His ordinances respecting them shall not change (Jr 36:31), or perish (Job 34:20; Psa 37:36).

⁷Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:

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

⁹Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:

¹⁰Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

7-10. The call on the earth, as opposed to heaven, includes seas or depths, whose inhabitants the dragon, as one of the largest (on leviathan, see on Psa 104:26), is selected to represent. The most destructive and ungovernable agents of inanimate nature are introduced.

¹¹Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

¹²Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:

11-12. Next all rational beings, from the highest in rank to little children. princes--or, military leaders.

¹³Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

13. Let them--all mentioned. excellent--or, exalted (Is 12:4). his glory--majesty (Psa 45:3). above the earth and heaven--Their united splendors fail to match His.

¹⁴He 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.

14. exalteth the horn--established power (Psa 75:5, 6). praise of--or literally, “for” his saints--that is, occasions for them to praise Him. They are further described as “His people,” and “near unto Him,” sustaining by covenanted care a peculiarly intimate relation.