1Hallelujah! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise Him in the highest places. 2Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His heavenly hosts. 3Praise Him, O sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars. 4Praise Him, O highest heavens, and you waters above the skies. 5Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He gave the command and they were created. 6He established them forever and ever; He issued a decree that will never pass away. 7Praise the LORD from the earth, all great sea creatures and ocean depths, 8lightning and hail, snow and clouds, powerful wind fulfilling His word, 9mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, 10wild animals and all cattle, crawling creatures and flying birds, 11kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth, 12young men and maidens, old and young together. 13Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens. 14He has raised up a horn for His people, the praise of all His saints, of Israel, a people near to Him. Hallelujah!
Matthew Henry's Commentary
The creatures placed in the upper world called on to praise the Lord. (1-6) Also the creatures of this lower world, especially his own people. (7-14) 1-6 We, in this dark and sinful world, know little of the heavenly world of light. But we know that there is above us a world of blessed angels. They are always praising God, therefore the psalmist shows his desire that God may be praised in the best manner; also we show that we have communion with spirits above, who are still praising him. The heavens, with all contained in them, declare the glory of God. They call on us, that both by word and deed, we glorify with them the Creator and Redeemer of the universe. 7-14 Even in this world, dark and bad as it is, God is praised. The powers of nature, be they ever so strong, so stormy, do what God appoints them, and no more. Those that rebel against God's word, show themselves to be more violent than even the stormy winds, yet they fulfil it. View the surface of the earth, mountains and all hills; from the barren tops of some, and the fruitful tops of others, we may fetch matter for praise. And assuredly creatures which have the powers of reason, ought to employ themselves in praising God. Let all manner of persons praise God. Those of every rank, high and low. Let us show that we are his saints by praising his name continually. He is not only our Creator, but our Redeemer; who made us a people near unto him. We may by "the Horn of his people" understand Christ, whom God has exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, who is indeed the defence and the praise of all his saints, and will be so for ever. In redemption, that unspeakable glory is displayed, which forms the source of all our hopes and joys. May the Lord pardon us, and teach our hearts to love him more and praise him better.