Psalm 146: Prelude of Praise

Psalms 146-150 are known as the Hallelujah Psalms, for each psalm in this collection begins and ends with the words Praise the LORD. The expression Hallelujah is the fusion of two Hebrew words: Hallel is an imperative meaning praise ye, and Jah is a contraction for the name of God, Yahweh. So, Hallelujah means Praise the LORD. As we noted last week, the title of Psalm 145, A Song of Praise of David, serves as a natural segue into the Hallelujah Psalms.

The psalmists do not distinguish worship songs from praise songs, for they are one and the same. All of the prior psalms lead up to this final celebratory collection. All of the trials, fears, and struggles described in prior psalms are now behind us. In this final collection, the emphasis is offering praise to the LORD. It is the worshipful acknowledgement that God is sovereign and victory is assured.

As We Offer Praise To Our LORD, Note...

• The Durational Aspect We Maintain. (1-2)
• The Political Perspective We Possess. (3-4)
• The Creational Insights We Value. (5-7a)
• The Providential Care We Experience. (7b-10)