This final psalm, Psalm 150, begins and ends with the Hebrew word, Hallelujah which means,
“Praise God.” Each verse in this psalm contains the Hebrew verb halel which means “praise.”
Halel appears ten times in these six verses.

150:1 tells us where to praise the Lord. The mention of “His holy place” likely refers to the Most Holy Place in the Jerusalem temple. This is set alongside of “the vault of His Power” in the same verse. This likely refers to his throne room in heaven itself.

150:2 tells us why to praise the Lord. The two things mentioned are:

1. His might acts. The two categories of might acts mentioned throughout the Psalms are:
   • the Lord’s creation and sustain of the universe
   • the Lords creation and preservation of Israel.
2. The Lord’s abounding greatness which likely is referring to his general character and
   his divine nature as in Romans 1:18-20.

150:3-5 tells us how we are to praise the Lord:

• Blast from the Ram’s horn
• Lute
• Lyre
• Timbrel
• Dance
• Strings
• Flute
• Sounding cymbals
• Crashing cymbals

The priest played the ram’s horn. The Levitical singers played the lyres while they sang. The congregation played timbrel (tambourines and danced).

Psalm 81:1-3 also mentions these instruments:

“Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Begin the music, strike the timbrel, play the melodious harp and lyre.
Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival.”

Dancing and the playing of timbrel (tambourines) is mentioned in:

• Exodus 15:20
• Judges 11:34
• 1 Samuel 18:6
• Jeremiah 31:4

There is also a parallel for Psalm 150:3-5 in 2 Samuel 6:5 and 6:15.

To be without Christ
is to be…

Without God
(2 Cor.5:19)

Without Life
(John 14:6)

Without Light
(John 8:12)

Without Salvation
(Acts 4:12)

Without Promises
(2 Cor.1:20)

Without Hope
(Ep.2:12)