Psalm 150 not only concludes the fifth book of the Psalms but also serves as a fitting conclusion to the entire collection. It brings the whole book of Psalms to a close on high ground, where praise and worship blend. From the first words in Psalm 1, “Blessed is the man…,” to the last, “Praise ye the Lord,” the full gamut of human emotions and conditions has been addressed. Some are sighs of anxiety, and others are full of grief and tears. There are groans because of oppression, from those who hold nothing back from the Lord and open their hearts to divine scrutiny. There are also heights of optimism and enthusiasm. Some songs of joy, gladness, and even ecstasy are very out of the ordinary.
One can imagine a great congregation of Jews in the past singing this final psalm, longing for the day when the whole nation will rejoice with “Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah!!!”
Wherever the saints of God are found, whether in large or small numbers, this refrain strikes a chord in the heart of everyone who loves the Lord – “Praise ye the Lord!” We praise Him for who He is and for what He has done in His marvelous creation as the Creator, “By whom, and for whom all things are and were created.” We praise Him as the Redeemer who has personally paid the price of redemption with His own blood. He gave His life “a ransom for all to be testified in due time.” We praise Him as our personal Savior who “would have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
In the past, praise to God was accompanied by a variety of musical instruments to keep a large, scattered crowd of people saying the same words at the same time. A melody is the best way to maintain harmony among a group of people with a wide range of voice tones. The larger the crowd and the farther they are spread out in a gathering, the louder the music has to be to keep them together in their expressions of praise.
Today, we join our voices in the gatherings of the Lord’s people to sing our “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…” We go further by teaching and admonishing one another, “in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” In this way, we not only praise God and edify ourselves but also edify those around us. With a melody led by a capable leader, the music flows from a variety of voices, and the Holy Spirit brings it into a harmonious sound by placing that grace in our hearts.
The point of any spiritual song or hymn is to convey a message, not to entertain people by skillful music or professional singing. That message makes even our music a priestly function, so that as worshipers, what we offer to God from our hearts is acceptable to a holy God because of our acceptance in the Beloved Son of God. Praise and worship often go together and are sometimes intertwined, as in the remembrance meeting of an assembly, when we break bread and drink the cup as a unified group of believers.
The object of worship is our Lord, the Creator, Redeemer, Savior, and Deliverer of His people. Those called to worship are “everything that hath breath praise the Lord,” and every individual is “Praise ye the Lord.” The whole universe was created for the glory of God, and that remains God’s intent. Man’s chief end is “To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” But sin brought discord. However, the time is coming when the whole universe, including mankind, will be in full harmony in praising the Lord. Presently, one of the greatest joys of a believer is to join in voice with other believers in hymns of praise, testimony, and thanksgiving.
There are many reasons we should worship God. One is for our own good. When we prostrate our souls before the Lord, we adopt a different attitude toward God and others than when we are merely attending a “church service.” Worship is also an expression of our adoration for our Lord Jesus Christ. In true worship of the Father, our spirits are opened and joined to Him, and our expressions are genuine, “in truth,” not pretend words meant to impress those who listen with our skill with words or ability to sing. In worship, we exalt the Lord by putting Him in His right place in our lives. We can’t make Him any higher than He is, but we can exalt Him in our lives and in our estimation, and maybe help others do the same.
Humanists turn their backs on God and exalt mankind instead. They elevate man to where he “looks good” in his own eyes and “feels good about himself.” Much of contemporary “Christian worship” makes God out to be not a whole lot higher in being than we are, and so uses human terms to describe One who is infinite in every way. When an orchestra is preparing for a concert, and you hear them tuning up their individual instrument, you hear squeaks, discordant sounds, and notes that clash with all the others around. It is actually hard on the ears. But when the conductor comes to the stand and lifts his hands and/or baton, everything goes quiet until he directs the first note. Remarkably, it is beautiful, and then as note after note is added, and all the instruments are used in harmony, there is marvelous beauty, both for the participants and the hearers. Most important of all, the conductor is pleased. That is how and why we praise the Lord – to please Him!!
“Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.” Then the personal note is added, “Praise ye the Lord.” What a glorious book! What a glorious Lord!