EXPOSITION
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 respect of heaven, commencement is made with the angels, from whom the writer descends to the sun and moon, the stars, the spacious firmament, and the clouds that float in it and above it (Psalms 148:2-4). In respect of earth, the writer begins with the lowest parts—the deep sea, and the monsters dwelling therein—whence he makes a sudden ascent to the highest parts—the atmosphere and the manifestations peculiar to it—lightning, hail, snow, vapor, stormy wind; hence he again comes back to solid earth—mountains, hills, trees, beasts, creeping things, and flying fowl (Psalms 148:7-10). Lastly, the discourse touches on man, and calls on him to join in the chorus of jubilation (Psalms 148:11-13). Professor Cheyne remarks that "in this psalm and in the De Profundis we seem to touch the opposite ends of the gamut of emotion." In the one we have the dirge of the Church; in the ether, its "Hallelujah Chorus." Metrically, two strophes of six verses each (Psalms 148:1-6, Psalms 148:7-12) are followed by one of two (Psalms 148:13, Psalms 148:14), assigning the motive for the entire psalm.