Bible Commentary

Psalms 148:7-14

Matthew Henry on Psalms 148:7-14

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

Even in this world, dark and bad as it is, God is praised. The powers of nature, be they ever so strong, so stormy, do what God appoints them, and no more. Those that rebel against God's word, show themselves to be more violent than even the stormy winds, yet they fulfil it.

View the surface of the earth, mountains and all hills; from the barren tops of some, and the fruitful tops of others, we may fetch matter for praise. And assuredly creatures which have the powers of reason, ought to employ themselves in praising God.

Let all manner of persons praise God. Those of every rank, high and low. Let us show that we are his saints by praising his name continually. He is not only our Creator, but our Redeemer; who made us a people near unto him.

We may by “the Horn of his people” understand Christ, whom God has exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, who is indeed the defence and the praise of all his saints, and will be so for ever. In redemption, that unspeakable glory is displayed, which forms the source of all our hopes and joys.

May the Lord pardon us, and teach our hearts to love him more and praise him better.

Recommended reading

More for Psalms 148:7-14

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 148:1-14The tribute of creation. The psalmist writes in a very jubilant strain; his mood is that of exultation. The sunshine of prosperity is on his path, and consequently the spirit of sacred joy is in his heart, and words of…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 148:1-14EXPOSITION THIS psalm has been well called "the joy-song of creation." Israel, having received a signal manifestation of the Divine power (Psalms 148:14), calls on all things in heaven and earth to praise Jehovah. In re…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 148:7-14The Creator and his creatures. "The psalmist calls upon the whole creation, in its two great divisions of heaven and earth, to praise God. Things with and things without life, things rational and irrational, are summone…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 148:7Praise the Lord from the earth. The counterpart of the clause in Psalms 148:1, "Praise ye the Lord from the heavens." Earth must join with heaven in the praise of God. Ye dragons; or, "ye sea-monsters" (comp. Psalms 74:…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 148:8Fire and hail. By "fire," in this combination, we must understand "lightning," or rather the various electrical phenomena accompanying storms in the East, which are sometimes very strange and terrible. Snow and vapors;…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 148:9Mountains, and all hills. The later psalmists are great admirers of" mountains." Perhaps the fiat and monotonous Babylonian plains led them to appreciate the beauties of a landscape like that of Palestine (comp. Psalms…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 148:10Beasts, and all cattle. There is a gradual ascent—from inanimate to animate things, from the "beasts" of the field to domesticated animals; from such animals to man (Psalms 148:11, Psalms 148:12). Creeping things (comp.…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 148:11Kings of the earth, and all people; rather, all peoples; or, all nations. Princes, and all judges of the earth. "Kings," "princes," and "judges" represent the upper classes of society; "peoples," or "nations," all the r…Joseph S. Exell and contributors