The Five Hallelujah Psalms (Part 3

by R.A. Parker, Stoke-on-Trent, England | Category: The Five Hallelujah Psalms (Part 3 | May 1987

Psalm 149

We have pointed out that Psalms 146, 147 and 148 may be considered to be progressive in revelation concerning praise, and deal with those who should praise the Lord and why. In this Psalm we learn of the work on earth of a praising people and the relationship of the Word of God to His praise.

We may consider this work as being threefold in action. Firstly it is the will of the Lord that His people should sing. They sang on the shores of the Red Sea after the Lord vanquished Pharaoh and his host (Ex. 15:1). They sang in the wilderness (Deut. 31:30) but it was not until David brought up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of all the earth into Zion that they sang a new song. It began in I Chronicles 16:7. By careful comparison it can be seen that verses 8-22 correspond to Psalm 105:1-15; verses 23-33 are found in Psalm 96:1-13 and verses 34-36 comprise the first verse and last two verses of Psalm 106. So Asaph and his brethren were first ordained to give thanks unto the Lord and to introduce the first phase of a new song on that unique occasion. The first reference to a new song is in Psalm 33:3 and was accompanied by the harp and psaltery to produce a loud (joyful) noise. The various phases of the song will continue until the scenes of Revelation 5:9 and 14:3 have been fulfilled.

The new song is for those whose feet have been set upon the high (sela) Rock and have had their goings established (Ps. 40:2,3). It is a new song concerning the Lord who is exalted in heaven in the place of the throne and the sanctuary as foreshadowed in 1 Chronicles 16. Its first phase occurred in the days of David when their singing was ordained to be accompanied by musical instruments, the timbrel and harp and with shouting and dancing (1 Chron. 15 & 16; Ps. 149). Today, the people of God have the privilege of making melody in their hearts to the Lord (Eph. 5:19).

Secondly, the work of His praising people is to execute His will in the earth and thirdly to use the Word of God. "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth". The Lord delights to hear His word used in praise and thanksgiving as well as to see His people wielding the two-edged sword (v.6). Isaac Watts so ably expressed this when he wrote:

Sweet is the work, our God and King,

To praise Thy Name, give thanks and sing,

To show Thy love by morning light,

And tell of all Thy truth by night.

To engage in this threefold service is the honour (beauty and majesty) of all His saints (v.9) or as the RVM has it, in this threefold service "He is the honour (beauty and majesty) of all His saints".

Psalm 150

It is appropriate that in this final Hallelujah Psalm, which also closes the Book of the Psalms, we should find that the theme is the direction and extent of Jehovah's praise. It is to God "in His sanctuary" that God's people direct their praise. "A glorious throne, set on high from the beginning, is

the place of our sanctuary" (Jer. 17:l2). It is the same sanctuary from which help and strength comes in the day of trouble (Ps. 20:1-2). The extent of His praise is the "firmament (or expanse) of His power", which includes His mighty works and His excellent greatness (v.2). Israel will yet have the privilege of praising Him again as we in our day are privileged, for praise waiteth for God in Zion (Ps. 65:1). After exhorting the use of a wide variety of musical instruments for accompaniment in praising Him, in final contemplation of his subject the Psalmist is led to exclaim, "Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. HALLELUJAH".

R.A. Parker, Stoke-on-Trent, England | May 1987
The Five Hallelujah Psalms (Part 3