Salmos 148
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 148
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Remember the Bible is an earth-oriented book. This planet was the focus of God preparing a special place to fellowship (cf. Gen. 3:8) with His highest creation (i.e., made in His image and likeness, cf. Gen. 1:26-27). All of the different levels of creation celestial (i.e., "from the heavens," Ps. 148:1b) earthly (i.e., "from the earth," Ps. 148:7a) covenant people are called on to praise YHWH, the Creator and Sustainer of all life on this planet and related to this planet (i.e., angels). This is the choir of heaven and earth, animate and inanimate!
Salmos 148:1-6
148:1-6 The VERB "praise" (BDB 237, KB 248) dominates this Psalm. Each of the three strophes begins with it. Psalm 148:1-4 contains all Piel IMPERATIVES, as does Ps. 148:7,14. This first strophe focuses on "above the earth" things (cf. Ps. 103:19-22). "from the heavens" (BDB 1029) ‒ this refers to the atmosphere above the earth; see SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN, also note Ps. 69:34; 96:11; Isa. 44:23; 49:13 "in the heights" (BDB 928) ‒ this is parallel to "heavens" "all His angels" (BDB 521) ‒ this refers to the conscious servants of God (cf. Ps. 103:20; Heb. 1:5-14); they are not said to be created in any specific OT text, but their inclusion here strongly suggests that, Col. 1:16 also strongly assumes this truth There are several Special Topics related to angels: SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS AND DEMONS SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELIC LEVELS IN PAUL'S WRITINGS SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVENLY COUNCIL OF ANGELS "all His hosts (BDB 838; see SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord of Hosts) ‒ this term is used in two senses in military contexts it refers to a heavenly army of angels (i.e., Josh. 5:13-15) in an astral worship context it refers to the lights in the sky (i.e., sun, moon, stars, comets) which were thought to be gods who affected human life; notice "a" could relate to Ps. 148:2a or "b" could relate to Ps. 148:3 (cf. Ps. 103:21) "sun and moon" ‒ these are the greater lights of Gen. 1:14-16; both were worshiped in the ANE (cf. Ezekiel 8); see SPECIAL TOPIC: MOON WORSHIP "all stars of light" ‒ see note at Ps. 147:4 "highest heaven" ‒ see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEAVENS AND THE THIRD HEAVEN "the waters that are above the heavens" ‒ this alludes to Gen. 1:6-8; God controls the ancient waters SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS SPECIAL TOPIC: THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH 148:5a "Let them praise" This is a Piel IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense. It would denote a call to prayer/praise to the Creator (cf. Ps. 148:5b-6). The "name" stands for YHWH Himself. See SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH. 148:5b This alludes to creation by the spoken word of Genesis 1 (cf. Ps. 33:6,9; Heb. 11:3). 148:6 This is a hyperbolic statement of the permanency of this planet and its seasons (cf. Jer. 31:35-36; 33:20,25). We know from 2 Pet. 3:7,10-12 that the polluted, fallen creation shall be cleansed. From science, moderns know that we live in a violent, unstable universe. This solar system is not eternal. These are faith statements of God's eternality (cf. Ps. 93:1; 96:10d) and His promises that those who know Him will be with Him! ▣ "forever and ever" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam). ▣ NASB, NKJV, Peshitta, LXX "a decree which will not pass away" "he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed" "by an unchanging decree" "established an order that shall never change" This phrase can refer to God's decree/plans (cf. Ps. 33:11) God's fixed boundaries of the land/sea/rivers (cf. Job 38:8-11; Ps. 104:9; Jer. 5:22) The VERB "pass over," "pass through," "pass on," "pass away" (BDB 716, KB 778, Qal IMPERFECT) obviously has a wide semantic field which can support #1 or #2.
Salmos 148:7-12
148:7-12 This strophe focuses on the praise (one VERB covers Ps. 148:7-12, each line assumes "praise") of living things on this planet. "sea monsters" (BDB 1072) ‒ this is used in several senses snake ‒ Exod. 7:9,10,12; Deut. 32:33; Ps. 91:13; see SPECIAL TOPIC: SERPENT dragon ‒ Jer. 51:34 (also note name of the gate in Neh. 2:13; see SPECIAL TOPIC: RED DRAGON) sea monsters ‒ see online notes at Gen. 1:21; Isa. 27:1; see SPECIAL TOPIC: LEVIATHAN "all deeps" (BDB 1062) ‒ this is used in several senses subterranean waters (salt), cf. Gen. 7:11; 8:2; Job 28:4; 38:16; Ps. 33:7; 107:23-26; 135:6; Isa. 51:10; Amos 7:4 fresh water ‒ usually in reference to crossing of the Red Sea, cf. Exod. 15:5,8; Ps. 77:17; 78:15; 106:9; Isa. 63:13 primeval waters ‒ Gen. 1:2; Ps. 104:6-7; Prov. 8:27, see SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS (water is never said to be spoken into existence in Genesis 1) Sheol - Ps. 71:20 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SHEOL) Psalm 148:7-8 lists weather and topological features of the earth Psalm 148:10 covers all created animal life Psalm 148:11-12 lists human beings of all social levels and ages
Salmos 148:13-14
148:13-14 The strophe starts like Ps. 148:5, with a Piel IMPERFECT of "praise" used in a JUSSIVE sense. It focuses on the praise due YHWH from His covenant people. 148:13 "His name alone is exalted" This is a literary expression of monotheism (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM) a way to contrast YHWH with mankind (cf. Isa. 2:11,17) ▣ "glory" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (kabod, OT). 148:14 "horn" The Hebrews viewed animal horns (esp. "ox," cf. Deut. 33:17; Ps. 92:10) as an expression of power (cf. Ps. 18:2). the altars in the temple had horns (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ALTAR OF SACRIFICE a person's life was characterized as a "horn" to be lifted up (cf. 1 Sam. 2:1; Ps. 89:17,24; 92:10; 112:9) put in dust (cf. Job 16:15) cut off (cf. Ps. 75:10) ▣ "all His godly ones" See notes at Ps. 16:10 and 145:10 online. Here the phrase is parallel to "His people." They are further characterized as sons of Israel a people near to Him ‒ this at first referred to priests/Levites who served in the temple but later came to be used of all covenant people who worship YHWH SPECIAL TOPIC:godly ones, holy ones