Thankful: Praising God Through the PsalmsНамуна

Psalms 149-150 - Hymn of Praise

Literary Context

The Hymns of Praise are the destination the psalmist has been intending for us all along. In these exalted songs, God is praised for the greatness of his power as Creator of the cosmos and Sovereign Lord over all the earth. These hymns follow a distinctive pattern. First, they open with a summons to worship. Then, they move into a celebration of God’s majesty and glory. Finally, they conclude with a renewal of the call to praise, drawing worshippers into an ever-deepening experience of God’s worthiness to receive our worship.

Reflection

The book of Psalms concludes with a bang. As you read Psalms 149 and 150, imagine a confetti gun going off every time the congregation is called to “Praise.”

Can you keep track of how many times that gun goes off?

But really, this praise party didn’t start in Psalm 149. The celebration began back in Psalm 145, which is specifically called a “Song of Praise” in its title. That song (Psalm 145) continues on until the end of Psalm 150, with "praise" echoing through the final six psalms like a joyous refrain.

But then…as we think about it a little more…we come to realize that actually our praise began to ring out even earlier.

In Psalm 116, we praised God by giving thanks for the times we have personally experienced his deliverance.

In Psalm 78, we praised God by the re-telling stories of his faithfulness that we have heard from Scripture and spiritual family.

In Psalm 51, we praised God by declaring our confidence in his acceptance of our confessions of sin.

In Psalm 23, we praised God by noticing the many ways he conveys that he is near to us.

In Psalms 3 and 4, we praised God in and through our questions and laments.

In Psalm 2, we praised God for the refuge of his Anointed One (the Davidic Messiah).

In Psalm 1, we praised God for making known to us the path to blessing and true fulfillment.

In and through it all, God has been, is, and ever will be worthy of our praise.

The crescendo of Psalms 149 and 150 point us to the day when we will pour out to God our unfiltered praise. And right now…in every season of life and through many different expressions…we are practicing for that glorious eternity.

Response

Of the psalms we looked at in this study, which one most closely describes your current season of life? In what ways are you praising God in the current season you are in?

For further reading:

• Psalm 8
• Psalm 33
• Psalm 100