Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise is to be given to Jehovah in His sanctuary and throughout the heavens and expanse that display His power, as the final summons for all people, every living thing, and even creation itself to exalt Him for His mighty acts and greatness. The sanctuary is His sacred building for worship, distinct from the worshipers who gather there and direct their prayer toward it. The psalm is an extended doxology closing the whole Book of Psalms, turning its many sorrows and needs into wholehearted joy. That praise in worship fittingly joins voices with musical instruments approved since David, whose worth depends on the hearts of those who offer them. Praising God in the sanctuary is the duty of everyone in public as well as in private, each doing it as well as he can rather than leaving it to another.
Words and Setting
The word sanctuary names the Lord's sacred building associated with Israel's worship. It is the place of worship itself, distinct from the worshipers, with the church related to it as those who worship there or direct prayer toward it rather than as the sanctuary. The psalm belongs to the post-Davidic group connected with the Jews' return from captivity in Babylon, which recounts the mixed feelings of the returning exiles and refers to the building and dedication of the second temple and the triumphs connected with it.
The psalm is an extended doxology, a glorious outburst of rapturous praise. It closes the fifth book of Psalms and the whole Book of Psalms. This is a fitting close to a treasury of God's word in which every human need and every human longing is met in prayer and praise. Although the book contains many expressions of sorrow, it ends in joyous, wholehearted praise to the Lord.
Praise in Worship
Praise belongs in the worship of Jehovah, both in his sanctuary and throughout the firmament, expanse, and heavens of his power that display his power. The call opens the final summons for all creation to exalt him — all people, every living thing, and even the elements and stars — for his mighty acts and greatness, and for his goodness and saving grace. Those saved by grace long to praise their Redeemer without end, and the song calls on creation to join them in that unending praise.
Its setting of worship includes musical praise offered to the Lord, with many musical instruments accompanying voices in praise. The psalm urges praise with musical instruments and calls on every living thing to praise the Lord, showing David's approval of instruments in praising God with no regret for promoting them. Instrumental music approved since David is therefore acceptable and fitting in worship when properly used, and its effect depends on the hearts of those who render it.
The call includes dance with instruments as an act of religious worship directed to God. Such dancing praises him when its place, manner, and purpose honor him rather than gratify the flesh or entertain people.
Praising God in the sanctuary is part of religious worship. Praise is a duty for everyone to perform in public as well as in private, and each person should do it as well as he can rather than leave it to someone else.
Giving Scripture its proper place in worship leads the people to praise him with renewed zest and power. The book closes with this song of praise, fitting for a treasury of God's word where every human need and every human longing is met in prayer and praise, and read in a devotional spirit it leaves its call to praise with the reader forever.
Praise is to be given to Jehovah in His sanctuary and throughout the heavens and expanse that display His power, as the final summons for all people, every living thing, and even creation itself to exalt Him for His mighty acts and greatness. The sanctuary is His sacred building for worship, distinct from the worshipers who gather there and direct their prayer toward it. The psalm is an extended doxology closing the whole Book of Psalms, turning its many sorrows and needs into wholehearted joy. That praise in worship fittingly joins voices with musical instruments approved since David, whose worth depends on the hearts of those who offer them. Praising God in the sanctuary is the duty of everyone in public as well as in private, each doing it as well as he can rather than leaving it to another.
Words and Setting
The word sanctuary names the Lord's sacred building associated with Israel's worship. It is the place of worship itself, distinct from the worshipers, with the church related to it as those who worship there or direct prayer toward it rather than as the sanctuary. The psalm belongs to the post-Davidic group connected with the Jews' return from captivity in Babylon, which recounts the mixed feelings of the returning exiles and refers to the building and dedication of the second temple and the triumphs connected with it.
The psalm is an extended doxology, a glorious outburst of rapturous praise. It closes the fifth book of Psalms and the whole Book of Psalms. This is a fitting close to a treasury of God's word in which every human need and every human longing is met in prayer and praise. Although the book contains many expressions of sorrow, it ends in joyous, wholehearted praise to the Lord.
Praise in Worship
Praise belongs in the worship of Jehovah, both in his sanctuary and throughout the firmament, expanse, and heavens of his power that display his power. The call opens the final summons for all creation to exalt him — all people, every living thing, and even the elements and stars — for his mighty acts and greatness, and for his goodness and saving grace. Those saved by grace long to praise their Redeemer without end, and the song calls on creation to join them in that unending praise.
Its setting of worship includes musical praise offered to the Lord, with many musical instruments accompanying voices in praise. The psalm urges praise with musical instruments and calls on every living thing to praise the Lord, showing David's approval of instruments in praising God with no regret for promoting them. Instrumental music approved since David is therefore acceptable and fitting in worship when properly used, and its effect depends on the hearts of those who render it.
The call includes dance with instruments as an act of religious worship directed to God. Such dancing praises him when its place, manner, and purpose honor him rather than gratify the flesh or entertain people.
Praising God in the sanctuary is part of religious worship. Praise is a duty for everyone to perform in public as well as in private, and each person should do it as well as he can rather than leave it to someone else.
Giving Scripture its proper place in worship leads the people to praise him with renewed zest and power. The book closes with this song of praise, fitting for a treasury of God's word where every human need and every human longing is met in prayer and praise, and read in a devotional spirit it leaves its call to praise with the reader forever.