THE HALLELUJAH PSALMS (Psalm 146-150)
THE HALLELUJAH PSALMS
Psalms 146-150
2 Cor. 4:15: “That the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the Glory of God.”
Preached by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
November 20, 2011
We joyfully gather again this Thanksgiving with a grateful heart to the Lord for life, the goodness of the Lord, our families, our friends, our provision but most of all that we experience the great Grace of the Lord’s Presence day unto day and night unto night. We are a blessed people and for that we sing unto the Lord with hearts overflowing with the joy of the Lord.
We have peace in the midst of the chaos of the world system. Paul wrote of many hearts of thanksgiving that will redound to the glory of God. (2 Cor. 4:15). “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the Glory of God.”
A day set aside for thanksgiving is part of the very foundation of our Christian faith. The idea of Thanksgiving did not originate with the pilgrims. Thanksgiving is part of worship as set forth in the Old and New Covenant that resounds over and over that the abundant grace though thanksgiving redound to the Glory of God. The first mention of thanksgiving is in Leviticus 7:12. Throughout Leviticus thanksgiving is described as a sacrifice and a peace offering. Lev. 22:29 “And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the Lord, offer it at your own will.” It is then offered individually from a pure heart of gratefulness.
David was a man with a grateful heart. The Lord spoke of him (1 Sam 13:14) “(David) a man after mine own heat which shall fulfill my will.” Out of the abundant grace of thanksgiving, David wrote many psalms of thanksgiving and praise to the Glory of God. These psalms redound through eternity in praise, worship and thanksgiving from David and Asaph. Neh. 12:46: “For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.”
Psalm 26:7 states clearly the intent of this abundant grace, “That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.”
Psalm 69:30: “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.”
Psalm 107:22: “And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare his works with rejoicing.
Psalm 145 is the last Psalm which mentions David as the author. The Psalms which follow (146-150) are all Hallelujah Psalms, each beginning and ending with “PRAISE YE THE LORD” or “HALLELUJAH”. Psalm 145 in the introduction to these Psalms. Even though these Psalms are not credited to David, they continue with the theme of his introduction. The theme is the same revelation given to Paul that “the abundant grace through the thanksgiving of many redounds to the Glory of God.”(2 Cor. 4:15). “”Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, as you have been taught abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Col. 2:7)
145: 9-17: “The Lord is good to all; and His tender mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall praise You, O Lord; and Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the Glory of Your kingdom, and talk of Your power; to make know to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord upholds all that fall, and raise up all those that are bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon You; and You give them their meat in due season. You open Your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways and Holy in all His works…”
“He is ever within earshot of a sincere cry for help. He fulfills the royal duty to maintain moral order in society, promoting the welfare of the obedient that love him and keep His commands. He wields providential justice against those who flout the divinely appointed moral order” (F.F.B.). He helps all that cannot help themselves, the weak and infirm. His strength will be sufficient for them. If we will rely on God, the strongest power cannot overcome us. (1 Cor. 10:13)
David’s personal praise is woefully inadequate by itself. He yearns to stand among a congregation made up of every creature only thus could God be worthily honored.
145:21: “My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh bless His holy name for ever and ever.”
Psalm 146 tells of the Gospel of confidence, and is known as The God of Jacob Psalm. This is Praise from the individual, “I’ll Praise my Maker”.
146:1: HALLELUJAH!!!! Praise the Lord, O my soul. While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.”
146:5: “Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God; who made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that is therein and who keeps truth forever.
The Psalmist lists 14 things that constitute Happiness:
- God is a helper in all problems
- Hope in God.
- The backing of the power that created all things.
- God to execute justice for the oppressed.
- God to be faithful to truth.
- God to liberate from prison.
- God to heal blind eyes.
- God to raise up when one is bowed down and defeated.
- God to liberate from prison.
- God’s unfailing love.
- God’s preservation.
- God’s relief of suffering for the fatherless and widow.
- God’s vengeance on the wicked.
- God is the eternal Ruler of man.
Psalm 147 is an invitation to Praise, telling of His Power and Providential care. This is praise from the nation, “Lift up Your eyes on High”.
147:1-4: “HALLELUJAH!!!. For it is good to sing praises unto our Elohim; for it is pleasant and comely… (Vs. 4) he tells the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names.”
Name and Number of Stars: Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (revised with current statistics):
“Astronomers claim there are over 40 sextillion stars which are suns to other planets.” (That is 40 plus twenty zeros.) “God knows the exact number of them for He made them (Isa. 45:18)” As of May 24, 2011, someone gave a count of 1,010,649.7 words in the English language, give or take a ¼ a million. “If God has every star named, then there are enough such names to fill around 80 quadrillion books. (That is 80 plus fifteen zeros). It would be hard to estimate how many more it would take to record all the other words God uses concerning the whole of His vast universe. No wonder the psalmist says in the next verse”:
147:5: “Great is our Lord, and of great power; His understanding is infinite.”
147:7: “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp to our God; who covers the heaven with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who make grass to grow upon the mountains… (Vs. 15) He sends forth His commandment upon earth; His word runs very swiftly. He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes. He casts forth His ice like morsels; who can stand before His cold? He sends out His word, and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow. He shows His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel. He has not dealt so with any nation; and as for His judgments, they have not known them. Praise you the Lord.!!!”
Here is a special word to the nation of Israel. What a unique privilege is theirs!!! Yes, the church is spiritual Israel. But the Lord chose the nation Israel for the birth of Jesus. Salvation is from the Jews!!!! The Holy Bible is written by the Jews!!! “He shows His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel. He has not dealt so with any other nation.” What a privilege!!! This is the reason Israel is hated by the world.
Psalm 148 is the song of nature. It begins in the heavens, sweeps downward to the depths, and ascends again. This is the New Song of Redemption and the psalm of Universal praise. It is sung by the choir of creation. The final three Psalms form the triad of the Crescendo of Praise.
148:1-6: ‘HALLELUJAH, Praise ye Jehovah from the heavens praise Him in the heights. Praise Him all his angels, Praise Him all His hosts (armies). Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light. Praise Him heavens of heavens, and the waters that are above the heavens. Le them praise the name of the Lord; for He commanded, and they were created. He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which shall not pass. Praise the Lord from the earth, dragons (sea monsters-serpents), and all deeps (gulf, abyss, deep hollows of the earth, grave, subterranean waters, primeval ocean). Fire (Heb. 12:29 “for our God is a consuming fire) and hail; snow, and vapor; stormy wind fulfilling His word; mountains, and all hills, fruitful trees; and all cedars; beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl; kings of the earth, and all people; both young men, and maidens; old men, and children; Let them praise the name of the Lord; for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven.”
Verse 14 specifically identifies the saints and the children of Israel.
“He also exalts the horn (power) of His people. These chosen people are two people groups: (1) Saints – church (2) even of the children of Israel, a people near to Him.” Yes, the people of his natural birth. HALLELUJAH!!!!!
Psalm 149 is a New Song for a New Creation, sung at the coming of His righteousness. Psalm 148 praised the Creator; Psalm 149 praises the Redeemer and is a song of victory celebration. Verses 1-5 is the church jubilant. Verse 6-9 is the church militant. As the chosen people (saints and Israel) praise God, we look forward to the future final triumph of God’s Kingdom purposes on earth as it is in Heaven.
149: 1-3: “HALLELUJAH, sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in Him that made him; let the children of Zion (church- Heb. 12:22-24) be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name in the dance; let them sing praises to Him with the Timbrel (drums) and harp. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory. Let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgment written; this honor have all His saints. HALLELUJAH!!!
Zion is where the Throne of God is eternally established and sure against all attacks of an enemy. Zion is the dwelling-place of God, where He is gloriously praise, where His doings are known. It is the place where God’s most glorious praise is know because there the fullness of salvation is known in the lives of the redeemed. Zion has a King who reigns forever in a Kingdom which extends to all generations. He is alive in God’s sons. Zion is know, not traced out with a boundary. Zion is experienced. Zion is a place of being in God. Zion is the Most Holy Place with all its truths. Zion is a present reality. Zion is the government of God in the earth! Zion is a people. Hebrews 12:22: “You have come to mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.”
Psalm 150 is the ecstasy of Praise. This is the Climatic crescendo of Universal praise. This choral symphony of Praise is the grand climax and finale to the whole collection of psalms!
THE WHERE OF PRAISE:
150:1: HALLELUJAH!!! Praise El in His sanctuary (holiness; Holy Ones”). Praise Him in the firmament (expanse) of His power.
THE WHY OF PRAISE:
Praise Him for His mighty acts. Praise Him according to His excellent(abundant) greatness.
THE HOW OF PRAISE:
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the Timbrel; and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals; praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals.
THE WHO OF PRAISE:
Let every thing that has breath praise the Lord. HALLELUJAH!!!!
“The highest function of any voice is to praise its Creator, from whom it derives its breath” (F.F.B.).
2 Cor. 4:15: “for all things are for your sakes that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”
Col. 2:7 “Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, as you have been taught abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
Preached by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from K.J.V. Bibliography: Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible; F.F. Bruce Bible Commentary----Leslie C. Allen; Principles of Present Truth---Kelly Varner; Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those from whom I have gleaned.