Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 148:13
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory [is] above the earth and heaven.
13. is excellent ] Is exalted, as in Isa 12:4. On excellent, excellency, in A.V. and P.B.V., see note in Driver’s Daniel, p. 32.
his glory ] His majesty. Cp. Psa 8:1; Psa 104:1; Psa 145:5; Hab 3:3.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Let them praise the name of the Lord – Let them praise Yahweh – the name being often put for the person.
For his name alone is excellent – Margin, as in Hebrew, exalted. He only is exalted as God. See the notes at Psa 8:1 : O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
His glory is above the earth and heaven – Compare the notes at Psa 113:4 : The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. See also the notes at Psa 8:1 : Who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 148:13
Let them praise the name of the Lord.
Universal praise due to God
I. The goodness of God to the irrational creatures. Although Nature is out of joint, yet even in its disruption I am surprised to find the almost universal happiness of the animal creation. On a summer day, when the air and the grass are most populous with life, you will not hear a sound of distress unless, perchance, a heartless schoolboy has robbed a birds nest, or a hunter has broken a birds wing, or a pasture has been robbed of a lamb, and there goes up a bleating from the flocks. The whole earth is filled with animal delight–joy feathered, and scaled, and horned, and hoofed. The bee hums it; the frog croaks it; the squirrel chatters it; the quail whistles it; the lark carols it; the whale spouts it. The snail, the rhinoceros, the grizzly bear, the toad, the wasp, the spider, the shell-fish have their homely delights–joy as great to them as our joy is to us. Goat climbing the rocks; anaconda crawling through the jungle; buffalo plunging across the prairie; crocodile basking in tropical sun; seal puffing on the ice, ostrich striding across the desert, are so many bundles of joy; they do not go moping or melancholy; they are not only half supplied; God says they are filled with good. The worms squirming through the sod upturned of ploughshare, and the ants racing up and down the hillock, are happy by day and happy by night. Take up a drop of water under the microscope, and you find that within it there are millions of creatures that swim in a hallelujah of gladness. The sounds in Nature that are repulsive to our ears are often only utterances of joy–the growl, the croak, the bark, the howl. The good God made these creatures, thinks of them ever, and will not let a ploughshare turn up a moles nest, or fishermans hooks transfix a worm, until, by Eternal decree, its time has come. Gods hand feeds all these broods, and shepherds all these flocks, and tends all these herds. The sea anemone, half animal, half flower, clinging to the rock in mid-ocean, with its tentacles spread to catch its food, has the Owner of the universe to provide for it. We are repulsed at the hideousness of the elephant, but God, for the comfort and convenience of the monster, puts forty thousand distinct muscles in its proboscis. I go down on the barren seashore and say, No animal can live in this place of desolation, but all through the sands are myriads of little insects that leap with happy life. I go down by the marsh and say, In this damp place, and in these loathsome pools of stagnant water there will be the quietness of death; but lo! I see the turtles on the rotten log sunning themselves, and hear the bogs quake with multitudinous life. When the unfledged robins are hungry, God shows the old robin where she can get food to put into their open mouths. Winter is not allowed to come until the ants have granaried their harvest and the squirrels have filled their cellar with nuts. God shows the hungry ichneumon where it may find the crocodiles eggs; and in Arctic climes there are animals that God so lavishly clothes that they can afford to walk through snowstorms in the finest sable, and ermine, and chinchilla, and no sooner is one set of furs worn out than God gives them a new one. He helps the spider in its architecture of its gossamer bridge, and takes care of the colour of the butterflys wing, and tinges the cochineal, and helps the moth out of the chrysalis. The animal creation also has its army and navy. The most insignificant has its means of defence–the wasp its sting, the reptile its tooth, the bear its paw, the dog its muzzle, the elephant its tusk, the fish its scale, the bird its swift wing, the reindeer its antlers, the roe its fleet foot. We are repelled at the thought of sting, and tusk, and hoof, but Gods goodness provides them for the defence of the animals rights.
II. The adaptation of the world to the comfort and happiness of man. The sixth day of creation had arrived. The palace of the world was made, but there was no king to live in it. Leviathan ruled the deep; the eagle, the air; the lion, the field; but where was the sceptre which should rule all? A new style of being was created. Heaven and earth were represented in his nature. His body from the earth beneath; his soul from the heaven above. The one reminding him of his origin, the other speaking of his destiny–himself the connecting link between the animal creation and angelic intelligence. In him a strange commingling of the temporal and eternal, the finite and the infinite, dust and glory. The earth for his floor, and heaven for his roof; God for his Father; eternity for his lifetime.
1. The Christian anatomist, gazing upon the conformation of the human body, exclaims: Fearfully and wonderfully made. No embroidery so elaborate, no gauze so delicate, no colour so exquisite, no mechanism so graceful, no handiwork so divine. So quietly and mysteriously does the human body perform its functions that it was not until five thousand years after the creation of the race that the circulation of the blood was discovered; and though anatomists of all countries and ages have been so long exploring this castle of life they have only begun to understand it. Volumes have been written of the hand. Wondrous instrument! Behold the eye, which, in its photographic gallery, in an instant catches the mountain and the sea.
2. I take a step higher, and look at mans mental constitution. Behold the benevolence of God in powers of perception, or the faculty of transporting this outside world into your own mind–gathering into your brain the majesty of the storm, and the splendours of the day-dawn, and lifting into your mind the ocean as easily as you might put a glass of water to your lips. Watch the law of association, or the mysterious linking together of all you ever thought, or knew, or felt, and then giving you the power to take hold of the clue-line, and draw through your mind the long train with indescribable velocity–one thought starting up a hundred, and this again a thou-sand–as the chirp of one bird sometimes wakes a whole forest of voices, or the thrum of one string will rouse an orchestra. Watch your memory–that sheaf-binder, that goes forth to gather the harvest of the past, and bring it into the present. Your power and velocity of thought–thought of the swift wing and the lightning foot; thought that outspeeds the star, and circles through the heavens, and weighs worlds, and, from poising amid wheeling constellations, comes down to count the blossoms in a tuft of mignonette, then starts again to try the fathom-hag of the bottomless, and the sealing of the insurmountable, to be swallowed up in the incomprehensible, and lost in God!
3. I take a step higher, and look at mans moral nature. Made in the image of God. Vast capacity for enjoyment; capable at first of eternal joy, and, though now disordered, still, through the recuperative force of heavenly grace, able to mount up to more than its original felicity; faculties that may blossom and bear fruit inexhaustibly. Immortality written upon every capacity; a soul destined to range in unlimited spheres of activity long after the world has put on ashes, and the solar system shall have snapped its axle, and the stars that, in their courses, fought against Sisera, shall have been slain, and buried amid the tolling thunders of the last day. (T. De Witt Talmage.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 13. Let them] All already specified, praise the name of Jehovah, because he excels all beings: and his glory, as seen in creating, preserving, and governing all things, is al, upon or over, the earth and heaven. All space and place, as well as the beings found in them, show forth the manifold wisdom and goodness of God.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Not so much in place as in excellency, above all the glories which are in earth and in heaven.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. Let themall mentioned.
excellentor, exalted(Isa 12:4).
his glorymajesty (Ps45:3).
above the earth andheavenTheir united splendors fail to match His.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Let them praise the name of the Lord, His nature and perfections, and celebrate the glory of them; and his wonderful works, and the blessings of his goodness, both of providence and grace; even all the above creatures and things, celestial and terrestrial, for the following reasons;
for his name alone is excellent; the name of the Lord is himself, who is excellent in power, wisdom, goodness, truth, and faithfulness, and in all other perfections of his nature; his works, by which he is known, are excellent, both of nature and of grace, and proclaim his glory; his Son, in whom his name is, and by whom he has manifested himself, is excellent as the cedars; and so are all his precious names by which he is called; and such is the Gospel, by which he is notified to the world: nay, the Lord’s name is alone excellent; all creature excellencies are nothing in comparison of him, in heaven or in earth, those of angels and men; and therefore should be praised by all, and above all;
his glory [is] above the earth and heaven; there is the glory of celestial and terrestrial bodies, which differ; the glory of the sun, moon, and stars, and of one star from another; but the glory of the divine Being, the Creator of them, infinitely exceeds the glory of them all: his glorious Majesty resides above heaven and earth; the heaven is the throne be sits upon, and the earth the footstool he stands on; and Christ, who is sometimes called his glory, and is the brightness of it,
Ps 63:2; is exalted above every name on earth, and is made higher than the heavens, and so is exalted above all blessing and praise; see Ps 8:1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(13) Excellent.Rather, exalted. As in Isa. 12:4. So LXX. and Vulg.
Above the earth and heaven.There is a fine artistic touch in the order of the words in this. All heaven and earth have been summoned to the chorus of praise, of Him who is now declared to be above earth and heaven.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 148:13 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory [is] above the earth and heaven.
Ver. 13. Let them praise the name of the Lord ] Join in this harmony of hallelujah.
His glory is above
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 148:13-14
13Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above earth and heaven.
14And He has lifted up a horn for His people,
Praise for all His godly ones;
Even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him.
Praise the Lord!
Psa 148:13-14 The strophe starts like Psa 148:5, with a Piel imperfect of praise used in a jussive sense. It focuses on the praise due YHWH from His covenant people.
Psa 148:13 His name alone is exalted This is
1. a literary expression of monotheism (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM )
2. a way to contrast YHWH with mankind (cf. Isa 2:11; Isa 2:17)
glory See SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (kabod, OT) .
Psa 148:14 horn The Hebrews viewed animal horns (esp. ox, cf. Deu 33:17; Psa 92:10) as an expression of power (cf. Psa 18:2).
1. the altars in the temple had horns
2. a person’s life was characterized as a horn to be
a. lifted up (cf. 1Sa 2:1; Psa 89:17; Psa 89:24; Psa 92:10; Psa 112:9)
b. put in dust (cf. Job 16:15)
c. cut off (cf. Psa 75:10)
Psa 148:14 all His godly ones See notes at Psa 16:10; Psa 145:10 online.
Here the phrase is parallel to His people. They are further characterized as
1. sons of Israel
2. a people near to Him – this at first referred to priests/Levites who served in the temple but later came to be used of all covenant people who worship YHWH
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk n the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. How is Psa 148:1-6 related to Psa 148:7-12?
2. Define hosts of Psa 148:2 b. Does it relate to Psa 148:2 a or Psa 149:3?
3. How does one reconcile Psa 148:6 with 2Pe 3:7; 2Pe 3:10-12?
4. Define sea monsters of Psa 148:7 b.
5. Does Psa 148:14 refer to praise to Israel or to YHWH?
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
name. See note on Psa 20:1.
earth and heaven: i.e. combining the two subjects of Psa 148:1 and Psa 148:7. This order of these two words occurs only here and Gen 2:4. Compare note on Deu 4:26.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
for his name: Psa 8:1, Psa 8:9, Psa 99:3, Psa 99:4, Psa 99:9, Son 5:9, Son 5:16, Isa 6:3, Zec 9:17, Phi 3:8
excellent: Heb. exalted, 1Ch 29:11, Isa 12:4, Isa 33:5, Mat 6:13
glory: Psa 57:6, Psa 72:19, Psa 108:4, Psa 113:4, Eph 4:10, 1Pe 3:22
Reciprocal: Exo 10:9 – We will go Exo 15:7 – the greatness Jos 9:9 – because 1Ch 16:29 – the glory 1Ch 29:20 – Now bless Ezr 2:65 – two hundred Job 11:8 – It is as high as heaven Psa 9:11 – Sing Psa 57:5 – thy glory Psa 68:25 – among Psa 76:1 – his Psa 96:8 – the glory Psa 108:5 – Be thou Psa 135:1 – Praise ye the name Jer 23:24 – Do Act 17:24 – seeing
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 148:13-14. Let them praise, &c. Let them acknowledge and celebrate the wisdom, goodness, and power of the Lord; for his name alone is excellent For how great soever any other beings may be, there is none equal to him, whose most excellent majesty infinitely surpasses that of all other beings; and whose glory is above the earth and heaven Above all that the earth or heaven can utter of him. He also exalteth the horn of his people And so great is Gods condescension unto us, the children of Israel, that he takes a peculiar care of us, hath bestowed upon us many peculiar benefits, and raised us to the highest pitch of honour, especially to this, that he hath brought us more near to himself than any other people upon the earth, and hath placed among us a visible token of his presence: we therefore are under peculiar obligations to praise him for his singular kindness.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
These earthly entities should praise Yahweh because He is greater than anything in heaven and on earth. Only His name is worthy of exaltation. In particular, God had raised up a king (strong one, horn) for His chosen people Israel. This person had become the praise of all His saints in Israel, the nation close to His heart.
"Thus far the psalmist has not said anything about the people of God. He has made reference to the ’angels’ of God (Psa 148:2) in heaven but has left out any reference to the people who do his bidding on earth until the very end. This is a climactic development of the psalm. God loves and cares for all his creation, but he has a special affinity for ’his people,’ ’his saints’ . . ., ’Israel,’ also known as ’the people close to his heart’ . . ." [Note: VanGemeren, pp. 874-75.]
The whole creation should praise God because He is the Creator and Sustainer of all. Furthermore, He blessed Israel by giving His chosen people worthy leadership. The "horn" God raised up-who is worthy of all praise, i.e., all forms of genuine praise, the sum total of all collective praises, and praise from all created things, living and inanimate-is Jesus Christ, the descendant of David.