The Five Hallelujah Psalms (Part 2)

by R.A. Parker, Stoke-on-Trent, U.K | Category: The Five Hallelujah Psalms | Apr 1987

Psalm 148

Just as Psalm 147 is the development of Psalm 146, 50 also Psalm 147 develops and extends the theme of praise into Psalm 148. The personal God, Jehovah thy Elohim, who is the object of my personal praise, is also Jehovah our Elohim, the object of our collective praise which flows from God's earthly centre, the place of the Name. Even more wonderful to contemplate is the glorious fact that at the centre of the praise of all heavenly and earthly things is the collective praise of the gathered people of God. The Psalmist is guided by the Spirit to explain why there is praise from things in the heavens for Jehovah. They came into being as created things in response to His commands, to be established for ever. He appointed each to fulfil a specific purpose within His infinite will, "a decree which shall not pass away" (vv. 5,6) or as the marginal reading gives "which none shall transgress".

Similarly, there is Hallelujah from the earth (v.7) "for His Name alone is exalted: His glory is above the earth and heaven" (v.13). The very purpose

of the praise of all created things in the heavens and in the earth is God's glory. The collective praise of all people and things in the earth is enriched by "the horn of His people" which speaks of the praise of all the saints (v.14). In the Psalmist's day, His people was Israel. Today, it is the gathered out and called together disciples of the Lord Jesus in churches of God who form His people. They were once no people but now are the people of God (1 Peter 2:10). They are not only at the centre of His will on earth, seeking to do His will on earth as it is done in heaven, but they are a people near unto Him as Israel was under the Old Covenant (v.14).

The great objective of the people of God should be to enthrone God upon their praises as Israel did. The reason for the forsaking by God the Father (El) as contained in the prophetic utterance of the Psalmist, "My God, My God, why didst Thou forsake Me"? (Mat. 27:46 RVM) is given in verse 3 of Psalm 22: "But Thou art holy, 0 Thou that art enthroned upon the praises of Israel"

(RVM).

R.A. Parker, Stoke-on-Trent, U.K | Apr 1987
The Five Hallelujah Psalms