We began to look at Psalm 150 in our last post. Let's continue there today:
Ps 150:1-6 (KJV)
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
We will continue with the 3rd verse. Remember that the word "praise" used throughout this Psalm is the Hebrew word, halal, which means:to be clear (used of sound or color), to shine, to make a show, to boast, to be clamorously foolish, to rave, to celebrate, to glory, to stultify (to cause to appear to be foolish or absurdly illogical), to act like a madman. It is a very active word. To obey this command means to be both seen and heard in giving glory to God! It means to be willing to appear foolish to some people while bragging on, boasting about, celebrating Him! The "Him" we are talking about is the Lord, Jehovah, the Eternal, Self-existing One! We are told here to praise Him "with the sound of", the Hebrew word, teqa', which means: a sound, a blast (of a horn), a trumpet blast. "Trumpet" is the Hebrew word, shophar, which is: a cornet (as giving a clear sound), or curved horn, trumpet, horn, a ram's horn. We're also told to praise Him "with the psaltery", the Hebrew word, nebel, which is: a harp, a lute, a guitar, a musical instrument, "and harp", the Hebrew word, kinnowr, which means: to twang, a harp, or lyre.
The 4th verse tells us to praise Him " with the timbrel", the Hebrew word, toph, which is: a tambourine, tabret, timbrel, "and dance" the Hebrew word, machowl, which means dance or dancing. Then we are told to praise Him with stringed instruments, and we know what those are, "and organs", the Hebrew word, 'uwgab, which means: a reed instrument of music, the panpipes.
In the 5th verse we are told to praise Him "upon", the Hebrew word, tselatsal, which is also translated here as cymbals and means: a clatter, a whirring, a cymbal (as clanging), the "loud", the Hebrew word, shema, which means: something heard, a sound, bruit (any of several generally abnormal sounds), cymbals and also upon the cymbals that are "high sounding", the Hebrew word, teruw'ah, which means: clamor, acclamation of joy, a battle-cry, an alarm, a signal, a sound of tempest, a shout, a shout or blast of war or alarm or joy.
I hope you didn't think that praising the Lord is a quiet affair! God is not afraid of a little noise! In fact there are many places throughout the Word of God where we are told to shout to the Lord! You cannot shout quietly! God loves music and praise and shouting and dancing when His people do those things unto Him! And, lest you think this only refers to people who know how to play instruments, the 6th and final verse says: "let" which is that Hebrew word, halal, again, "everything", the Hebrew word, kol, which means: all, the whole of, any, each, every, anything, everything, totality, "that hath breath", the Hebrew word, neshamah, which means: every breathing thing, praise the Lord, PRAISE YE THE LORD!!!
Psalm 150:1-6 (Amplified)
1PRAISE THE Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power!
2Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness!
3Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!
4Praise Him with tambourine and [single or group] dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes!
5Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!
6Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)
It IS the commandment of God that every living, breathing person spend some time praising (putting on a show, boasting, bragging, being clamorously foolish and even appearing as a madman!) in giving praise and glory to the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords! If you've been holding back, now is the time to pick it up! Let go and let loose with everything that is in your heart for Him, and don't forget the dance! He LOVES your praise. In fact, the Bible says that He inhabits the praises of His people! That means that His presence is active in your praise. So let's do it! Give Him the praise He so deserves and desires! You will never be the same again!
Shalom in Him!
