Psa 146-150 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Ps 146:1-150:6: Pss 146–150 The Psalter ends with five hallelujah psalms, so named because each begins and ends with Praise the Lord ! (Hebrew haleluyah ). Summary for Ps 146:1-10: Ps 146 The call to praise (146:1-2 ) leads into a warning against folly and false confidence (146:3-4 ). The psalm concludes with a blessing for all who place their hope in the Lord (146:5-7 ). 146:1 This verse is reminiscent of 103:1 , 2 , 22 ; 104:1 , 35 .

Summary for Ps 146:1-150:6: Pss 146–150 ^a The Psalter ends with five hallelujah psalms, so named because each begins and ends with Praise the Lord! (Hebrew haleluyah).
Summary for Ps 146:1-10: Ps 146 ^b The call to praise (146:1-2 ^c) leads into a warning against folly and false confidence (146:3-4 ^d). The psalm concludes with a blessing for all who place their hope in the Lord (146:5-7 ^e). 146:1 ^f This verse is reminiscent of 103:1 ^g, 2 ^h, 22 ⁱ; 104:1 ^j, 35 ^k.
Summary for Ps 146:8-9: 146:8-9 ^l The fourfold repetition of the name of the Lord emphasizes that only he heals, unburdens, loves, and protects.

‏ Psalms 147

Summary for Ps 147:1-20: Ps 147 ^m The psalmist calls for the Lord to be praised for restoring and blessing Zion, caring for the poor, displaying his power over nature, and revealing himself to his people. 147:1 ⁿ This verse is a call to worship.
Summary for Ps 147:2-6: 147:2-6 ^o The psalmist recalls the restoration of Jerusalem and the Lord’s afflicted exiles.
Summary for Ps 147:4-5: 147:4-5 ^p The Lord created the heavens.

• He counts the stars: God’s people can feel secure in knowing that the Lord attends to every detail of his creation; he knows all that belongs to him.
147:6 ^q God measures out his justice on the poor and on the wicked (55:22 ^r; 140:12 ^s; 145:14 ^t; 146:7 ^u).
Summary for Ps 147:7-11: 147:7-11 ^v Human achievements fail to impress the God who commands nature; rather, he takes pleasure in those who fear him.
147:8 ^w God holds sovereign power over the weather (77:17-18 ^x; 78:26 ^y; 104:4 ^z; 148:5-6 ^aa).
Summary for Ps 147:10-11: 147:10-11 ^ab human might: Any physical or intellectual achievement is a gift from the Lord, just like the strength of a horse. These gifts are a reason to praise the Lord, not to boast (Jer 9:23-24 ^ac).
147:13 ^ad The bars of the city gates symbolize defenses against enemies.

• God blessed his people by empowering them with safety, prosperity, peace, and provisions (see 133:3 ^ae).
Summary for Ps 147:15-18: 147:15-18 ^af Simply by speaking his command, the Lord can change the season from unbearable winter to refreshing spring (see 147:8 ^ag; 148:5-6 ^ah).
Summary for Ps 147:19-20: 147:19-20 ^ai words ... decrees ... regulations: The Lord gave powerful words to Israel so that they might obey him (105:45 ^aj).

‏ Psalms 148

Summary for Ps 148:1-14: Ps 148 ^ak This psalm calls for the whole created order to praise the Lord because he has honored his faithful people. 148:1 ^al During Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the crowds called out various blessings, including a phrase taken from this verse (Matt 21:9 ^am; Mark 11:10 ^an; Luke 19:38 ^ao).
148:6 ^ap The created order is stable because of the Lord’s word (see 33:9 ^aq).
148:8 ^ar In the ancient Near East, people viewed different gods as having control over separate aspects of nature. The Lord, however, reigns sovereign over all natural phenomena; all the parts of creation are his servants, bringing praise to him through their obedience (77:17-18 ^as; 104:4 ^at; 135:7 ^au; 147:8 ^av, 15-18 ^aw; Num 11:31 ^ax).
Summary for Ps 148:11-12: 148:11-12 ^ay The psalmist calls all humans to offer praise to God, regardless of status, age, or gender.
Summary for Ps 148:13-14: 148:13-14 ^az Universal praise of the Lord is fitting because he is glorious, and he has blessed his people (see 147:13 ^ba; Isa 46:13 ^bb; Eph 3:10 ^bc).

• His faithful ones are his trusting and devoted servants (Ps 86:2 ^bd).

‏ Psalms 149

Summary for Ps 149:1-9: Ps 149 ^be This hymn of praise celebrates the Lord’s victory. He is the Maker of Israel (149:1-2 ^bf) and the victorious King who shares his glory with his faithful ones (149:3-9 ^bg).
149:4 ^bh God’s people, whom the world ignores and despises, will be vindicated (Matt 19:30 ^bi). The humble will experience victory over their oppressors and persecutors (see Isa 61:3 ^bj).
Summary for Ps 149:6-9: 149:6-9 ^bk Vengeance is the Lord’s business (see 2:3 ^bl; 94:1 ^bm; 102:20 ^bn; 142:7 ^bo; 146:7 ^bp).

‏ Psalms 150

Summary for Ps 150:1-6: Ps 150 ^bq Everything that breathes is commanded to praise the Lord as he deserves. The whole Psalter describes the greatness of the Lord, so this psalm is a fitting conclusion. 150:1 ^br The phrase mighty heaven alludes to Gen 1 ^bs and to God’s glorious work in filling the emptiness.
Summary for Ps 150:3-5: 150:3-5 ^bt The psalmist calls all people to praise God with instruments and dancing. flutes: These wind instruments are not mentioned as being used in Temple worship.

• clanging cymbals: Temple musicians clapped two bronze bowls together as percussion instruments.
150:6 ^bu Praise the Lord: This refrain is a fitting conclusion to the entire book of Psalms.