God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ, our reason to sing hallelujah.
The last five psalms (146–150) comprise what might be considered a great “Hallelujah Chorus” to this “Hallel” book—the “book of Israel’s praises,” as the book of Psalms was called by the children of Israel. The last five psalms would then form an epilogue to the Psalter as a whole, corresponding in number to the five books of the Psalms and the five books of the torah. Each psalm in this five-psalm group both begins and ends with an imperative and exclamatory “Praise ye the LORD,” or, in the Hebrew, “Hallelujah!” Two other psalms also have this characteristic (113 & 117). Psalms 111 & 112 also begin that way but do not end with hallelujah! The word “Hallelujah” occurs 22 times in the book of Psalms which is the numbers of letters in the Hebrew language. From this some early rabbis suggest that the very purpose of language is for God to reveal His Word to man and for man then to respond with thanksgiving and praise to God.
Psalm 92:1-2: <A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day.>
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: 2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night
Just as the Hallelujah Psalms all begin and end with the word “Hallelujah!” we should also start and end each day with thoughts and words of praise towards Our Lord God Almighty, as the psalmist suggests in Psalms 92:1-2 above. Indeed, it seems as though the psalmists are unable to contain or constrain praise in their own souls, and they exhort the entire congregation with the imperative declaration: “Hallelujah!” or “Praise the Lord!” It is as if they,, so filled with the delight of praise and wanting everyone else to enjoy the freedom and exaltation of the same, issue the command to the congregation to praise the Lord!
The first of these Hallelujah Psalms shows the importance of the individual to praise the Lord. If I do not praise Him, His praise will be incomplete. In Psalms 146 the command to the congregation to praise the Lord is followed immediately by one the psalmist direct to himself to which he responds with resolve and commits to do so.
Psalm 146:1-2:
Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. 2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
After the warning to trust no one but God (vss 3-5), the psalm closes with 10 reasons to praise. The first 4 begin with “which” and the last six begins with “the Lord.” These are designed to encourage the rest of the congregation to make the same commitment he has and praise the Lord.
In Psalm 147, we find a special call for us to praise God. This Psalm relates to the time of Israel’s restoration to God. It may be referring to the time of Nehemiah at the completion of the walls around Jerusalem (Nehemiah 12:27-43) as it describes the people singing to the Lord (v 7) and God granting peace to their borders (v 14). The overall message of the psalm is that we should always praise God for His love and concern for us and for Who He is, what He has done for us and what He will do for us. All the praise of Psalm 147 revolves around verse 11, “The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.”
Psalm 148 calls upon everything in heaven and on earth to praise God. It is pure praise with no petition in it. It celebrates God’s Word and faithfulness and reminds us that God keeps His promises. We find the phrase “fulfilling His word” in the center of the psalm. The psalm stresses how God always fulfills his word.
Psalms 148:5-6:
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. 6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
Psalm 149 emphasizes that God’s people have particular reason to praise the Lord, “For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.” In the wonderful closing Psalm we come to the culmination of praise where we are exhorted over and over again to praise the Lord. Psalm 150 after the initial “Praise ye the Lord,” lists 10 commands in climactic parallelism to praise God in different ways and with a variety of musical instruments (verses 1-5). This is comprehensive praise. We are told where to praise Him, why to praise Him, how to praise Him and who is to praise Him. Then in the majestic finale, the congregation sings, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” As long as we are breathing (all the time!) we are to praise the Lord! Let’s give Him praise! Hallelujah!