Psalm 148 covers the gospel explaining the struggle between God and Satan from creation to the fulfillment of Israel’s role in God’s future.

What should I learn from this chapter?

• The meaning of Praise
• Symbolism of Sun, Moon and Stars
• Waters over the heavens
• The Leviathan and the Behemoth
• The authority of God
• The plan of God

Praise to the Lord from Creation

• Creation:
  • Click here to go to Genesis 1, when pop-up appears, click on link at top.
  • Click here to go to John 1, when pop-up appears, click on link at top.

Psalm 148:¹ Praise the Lord! (Hebrew: Hallelujah!)

• Since Hallelujah is translated as “Praise the Lord” then the notes under the verses emphasize His praise.

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!

• Hallelujah from the heavens; Hallelujah from the heights
• What? Praise
• Where? From the heavens, in the heights

Psalm 148:² Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!

• Hallelujah
  • Who praises Him? All His angels (messengers)
• Hallelujah
  • Who praises Him? All His hosts (literally: regimen of soldiers)

Psalm 148:³ Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all you stars of light!

• Hallelujah
• Who praises Him? Sun and moon
• Hallelujah
• Who praises Him? Stars of light
• The sun and moon and stars of light are symbolic of God’s plans for the Jews and all mankind
  • The sun is the father of the 12 tribes of Israel/aka Jacob (also symbolic of the Father God), the moon is Leah, Jacob’s wife. The stars are the 12 tribes.
  • Genesis 37:9-10 Then he (Joseph) dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?”
  • Revelation 12:1 The Woman (Israel), the Child (Jesus), and the Dragon (Satan) – Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars (the 12 tribes of Jacob/Israel).
  • 

Psalm 148:⁴ Praise Him, you heavens of heavens,
And you waters above the heavens!

• Hallelujah
• Who praises Him? The heavens of heavens (the highest of heavens) and the waters above the heavens
  • Genesis 1:⁷ Thus God made the firmament rāqîaʿ, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.
  • rāqîaʿ H7549 firmament (of vault of heaven supporting waters above) considered by Hebrews as solid and supporting ‘waters’ above.

Psalm 148:⁵ Let them praise the name of the Lord Yᵊhōvâ,
For He commanded and they were created.

• Allow them! Do not hinder the praises of honor, authority, and character of Yᵊhōvâ.
• By His command of authority they were created (bārā’)

Psalm 148:⁶ He also established them forever and ever;
He made a decree which shall not pass away.

• He made a decree: Laws, Boundaries, Dates and Times which shall not pass away.

Psalm 148:⁷ Praise the Lord from the earth,
You great sea creature (Leviathan in the singular) and all the depths;

• Great Sea Creature in Hebrew is h8577 tannîn = Dragon, Sea Monster (symbolic: in the sea of people), Sea Serpent, also Leviathan. Dragon (leviathan) = Satan.
• “The depths”: opposite of the heights in verse 1. It could also allude to the grave or Sheol (hell), the depth of evil, the abyss, or the bottomless pit. Even hell is commanded to Praise the Lord.
• See Bible: Job chapter 41 (unfinished). When pop-up appears, click on link at top of pop-up.

Psalm 148:⁸ Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

• Satan causes the “Sea of People” to storm, to fret, to stew. In Job 41 he causes the sea of people to boil. He has a heart as hard as a millstone. He is called “the king over the children of pride”.

Psalm 148:⁹ Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;

• Mountains are symbolic of Large Kingdoms and hills are symbolic of small kingdoms.
• Cedars are symbolic of upright and righteous leaders.
• Fruitful trees allude to prosperity.
• Literally and symbolically, everything is a Praise to the Lord.

Psalm 148:¹⁰ Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl;

• Beast = Large beast that is not a reptile like the sea monster in verse 7. Specifically Behemoth.
  • H929, H930 Behemoth.
    • A mute burden bearer. See Job 40:15.
    • See Topic: Behemoth. Click on link at top of pop-up.
  • ^{Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth (He was mute);}
  • The singular name of God “El” consists of two Hebrew letters; the “Aleph” = “ox”, and the “Lamedh” = “yoke”; the thought being that God, a burden bearer, yokes Himself to man in order to carry man’s burdens to give man rest.
    • ^{Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.}
    • ^{Exodus 33:14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”}
  • Not a reptile like the sea monster in Psalm 148:7 or Job chapter 41. Not an amphibian, fish or bird, therefore; a mammal as in Job 40, the Behemoth which eats grass.
    • The Behemoth is the first (fruit) of the ways of God;
    • Indeed the river may rage, Yet he is not disturbed;
    • Like the Leviathan he dwells in a sea or river (symbolic of people).

Psalm 148:¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;

• All mankind from leaders to the masses, including the princes not yet kings and judges who need God’s wisdom to lead men. Kings are for the present but princes are for the future. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace.
• The ultimate King and Judge is Jesus who will set up His kingdom on earth and reign as King of kings and as the Judge of the nations. At that time, instead of the Prince of Peace, He will be the King of Peace.
  • ^{Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.}

Psalm 148:¹² Both young men and maidens;
Old men and children.

• All ages
• Both sexes
• The guilty and the innocent
• The dying and the living

Psalm 148:¹³ Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above the earth and (above) heaven.

• There is no other God
• Isaiah 44:8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’ ”

WHAT	WHERE	WHO WILL PRAISE HIM?	HOW	WHEN	WHY	VERSES PSALM 148
Praise Him				From Creation		1
Praise Him	from the heavens					1
Praise Him	in the heights					1
		all His angels, all His hosts				2
		sun and moon, stars of Light				3
		heavens of heavens, waters above the heavens				4
			He commanded (with His voice) and they were created			5
			He established them forever He made a decree which shall not pass away.			6
Praise the Lord	From the earth	You Great Sea Creatures and all the depths				7
		Fire and hail, snow and clouds, Stormy wind			Fulfilling His word	8
		Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars				9
		Beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying fowl				10
		Kings of the earth and all peoples, Princes and all judges of the earth				11
		Young men and maidens, old men and children				12
Praise the Lord		Them			His name alone is exalted, His glory is above the earth and heaven.	13
Praise the Lord. Hallelujah!					He has exalted the strength of the Jews, the praise of His saints, the children of Israel. A people near to Him.	14

Psalm 148:¹⁴ And He has exalted the horn (power, strength and dominion) of His people (the Jews),
The praise of all His saints—
Of the children of Israel,
A people near to Him.

Praise the Lord! (Hebrew: Hallelujah!)