People should praise Yahweh (Ps 148:11-148:14)

“Kings of the earth!

All peoples!

Princes!

All rulers of the earth!

Young men!

Women!

Old men!

Children!

Let them praise the name of Yahweh!

His name alone is exalted!

His glory is above earth and heaven.

He has raised up a horn for his people.

He wants praise for all his faithful.

The people of Israel are close to him.

Praise Yahweh!”

Every person should praise Yahweh. This included the kings, princes and all the rulers of the earth. Besides them, both the young and the old men as well as women and children should praise Yahweh. His name should be exalted above very other name. He has given to his people the horn of plenty. He also wants praise from the people of Israel who are near to him. This psalm ends with the appropriate phrase “praise Yahweh,” another way of saying alleluia, the Hebrew “Hallelujah.”

Mountains and animals praise Yahweh (Ps 148:9-148:10)

“Mountains!

All hills!

Fruit trees!

All cedars!

Praise Yahweh!

Wild animals!

All cattle!

Creeping things!

Flying birds!”

Then there is a list of all the other things that praise Yahweh. The mountains and hills praise Yahweh. The fruit trees and the all the big cedar trees praise Yahweh. The wild animals and the cultivated cattle praise Yahweh. The creeping things and the flying birds praise Yahweh. Both animate and inanimate things praise Yahweh in this cosmic hymn to God.

The earth should praise Yahweh (Ps 148:7-148:8)

“Praise Yahweh!

From the earth!

You sea monsters!

All the depths!

Fire!

Hail!

Snow!

Frost!

Stormy winds fulfill his command!”

Besides heaven, the earth and its environment with its changing climate should praise Yahweh. All the sea monsters and the depths of the sea should praise Yahweh. Fire, hail, snow, frost, and stormy winds fulfill his commandments so that they praise Yahweh.

Cosmic praise of Yahweh (Ps 148:1-148:6)

“Praise Yahweh!

Praise Yahweh from the heavens!

Praise Yahweh in the heights!

Praise him!

All his angels!

Praise him!

His entire host!

Praise him!

Sun and moon!

Praise him,

All you shining stars!

Praise him!

You highest heavens!

Praise him!

You waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of Yahweh!

He commanded.

Thus they were created.

He established them forever and ever.

He fixed their bounds.

They cannot be passed.”

Psalm 148 is another “praise Yahweh” psalm, another way of saying alleluia, the Hebrew “Hallelujah.” This time all created things are to praise Yahweh, not just Israelites or other humans. Everything and everyone was to praise Yahweh. In particular the highest heavens are to praise Yahweh. All the angels and hosts of armies of Yahweh were to praise him. The sun, the moon, and the stars in the skies were to praise Yahweh. The highest heavens with the water that was to fall on the earth were to praise Yahweh. This is truly a cosmic praise of Yahweh. However, all theses heavenly angels and sky were created at the command of Yahweh. He established them forever with a certain boundary that they cannot pass.