Psalm 148. In this psalm all creation is called on to praise the Lord: angels, all His hosts, and all created things—sun, moon and stars; for He has created them, set them in their places, and sustains them. We do not know how this will be brought about, but in Job it is said that when the foundations of the earth were laid, “The morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” How fitting then that this should be brought about, when that evil being, who has caused such misery in this world, is shut up in the bottomless pit and held there. Then all the inhabitants of the earth are called upon to praise the Lord, be they kings, princes or judges; young men and maidens; old men and children, all are to unite in praising Him. This great Creator is the God of Israel and they are His people. Some may think it strange that God is again going to take up one nation, through whom all His blessings will flow out to all others. But it is in accordance with His promises when He took up Abraham as a man of faith. It cannot be until the stony heart is taken from them and a new heart is given to them, and they have His spirit within them. This will take place after He has passed them through great tribulation on account of their rejection of the Messiah, when faith in Him will be produced in their hearts. This will not take place until after He has called the Church, those who have accepted Christ as Saviour now, to be with Christ in glory. (John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3); 1 Thess. 4:15-1815For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑18).)
Psalm 149. Israel is called upon to sing unto the Lord a new song, and it will be a new song when they learn that the lowly Jesus, whom they rejected, was the Lord, their shepherd of old. This song tells of the pleasure that the Lord takes in His people, and beautifies the meek with salvation. What a change from the meek being trodden down and imposed upon! High praises of God are to be in their mouths when He acts in righteous government in this earth—something it has never known in all its history under all its governments.
Psalm 150. In this final psalm, the call is for praises to God in His sanctuary—the temple having been rebuilt by the redeemed of Israel as is described in Ezekiel 40-44. He is to be praised for His mighty acts and the excellence of His greatness. These chapters of Ezekiel show how Israel’s manner of worship in the future is like that of old, before the Lord stated that the hour was come that worship was to be neither in this mountain, nor yet in Jerusalem, but in spirit and in truth. The hour shall at this time have run its course and will be over. So that the old manner of worship is not only acceptable, but will be proper in that day. The hour terminates when He calls those who have owned Him now as Saviour, to be at home with Him in glory. But what a sad time awaits those who have not heeded His gracious call, “Come unto Me”!
“Hell, too, is waiting; O sinner, think,
You are now standing just on the brink;
Only one step, the line may be crossed,
Only one step, then forever lost.”
ML 07/02/1961