Theme:
God is worthy of total, joyful, and unrestrained praise—everywhere, by every means, from every living breath.
Tone:
Jubilant.
Structure:
A widening call to worship: (1) where God is praised, (2) why God is praised, (3) how God is praised, (4) who must praise.
The Call
The psalm opens with an urgent summons that leaves no room for hesitation: Praise the LORD. The heart is lifted upward and outward at once—toward God’s sanctuary and into His mighty expanse—so worship is not confined to a mood or a moment, but anchored in who God is.
The Reflection
Praise deepens as the psalm names its reasons: God’s “mighty deeds” and His surpassing greatness. The worshipper is drawn from mere sound into reverent awe—praise is not generated by human enthusiasm, but awakened by divine reality. Then the Psalm turns to a holy exuberance: trumpets, strings, cymbals, dance—an entire life gathered into worship. The inner posture here is glad surrender: nothing is held back, because God’s glory is not small, and gratitude cannot remain quiet when His greatness is seen.
The Resolve
The ending is both simple and total: “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.” The psalm concludes not with a private devotion but with a universal horizon. All breathing creatures are summoned into their truest purpose. The final “Praise the LORD” lands like a seal—steady, bright, and undiminished.
Psalm 150 does not predict a single messianic event, yet it finds its fullest voice in Christ. In Jesus, God’s “mighty deeds” reach their climax: the cross and resurrection reveal a greatness deeper than power alone—holy love that conquers sin and death. He is also the true meeting place of worship: not only praised in the sanctuary, but Himself the One in whom God dwells with His people. And because the risen Christ pours out the Spirit, the call “let everything that has breath praise the LORD” becomes more than obligation; it becomes renewed life—breath given back to worship, hearts made alive to glorify God.
The repeated command “Praise” is the Hebrew halĕlû (as in “Hallelujah”), an imperative plural: it is addressed to a gathered people, not merely to solitary worship. Psalm 150 is communal praise at full volume—an ending that gathers Israel (and, by extension, all creation) into a shared, unifying vocation.
"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!" — Psalm 150:6
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. What two reasons are given for praising God?
2. According to the psalm’s closing summons, who must praise the LORD?