Psalm 150:6 Let every thing that has breath praise the LORD. Praise you the LORD. It is difficult to conceive how any man who believes in God can need to be reminded of the duty of praise. In every age and country the adoration of the Supreme Being has risen with the illumination of the human mind, and borne a very exact proportion to its restoration in the Divine image. "Our whole life should speak forth our thankfulness." "Let all the breath [i.e. the entirety of animate creation] praise Jehovah." If a comprehensive view of God be taken, and it is seen that "his tender mercies are over all is works," and that "the eyes of all wait upon him, and he giveth them their meat in due season," this call to the entire animate creation to join man in his praise will become to us more than poetry and sentiment. It is to be noticed that the Hebrew poet had no glimpse of the idea of Wordsworth, that a living soul animates the inanimate creation. The Hebrew limits his call to creatures that have breath and can make sounds; and of this great choir man is the leader. They may be likened to the great band of musicians in a chorus, who never utter an articulate sound, yet are in perfect harmony with the singers whose intelligent voices lead the chorus. "As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there." I. EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY OUGHT TO PRAISE GOD. Ought to harmoniously unite in praising God. And this is only possible when each does what he can, and does it in the best way he can. The grand song of redeemed nature and man is well given in Pollok's 'Course of Time,' pp. 189-191. II. WE OUGHT TO PRAISE GOD. For the last exclamation, "Praise ye the Lord!" should be taken as a personal call and application. It can never he enough to us that praise is being offered. Nor can it be enough to offer formal praise with ours. It must be our praise-our soul-praise, and our praise at its best. - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. |
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