The book of Psalms consists of five sections: Psalms 1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, and 107-150.
Each one of these books ends with a verse of praise to the Lord. The end of the fifth book, Psalm 150:1–6, is a continuous praise to God. In each of the six verses you find the praise to God.
It starts already very exuberantly with the word Hallelujah
(that is, Praise the LORD!
). Immediately, we are encouraged to praise this great God, who revealed himself with his meaningful name YHWH, and Exodus 3:14 explains this as I AM WHO I AM.
Up to ten times the verb hallal, praise, worship,
is repeated in this psalm. This underscores how much it is the duty of man to praise the Lord!
For centuries this happened in the temple in Jerusalem. That was, after all, the place the Lord had chosen to live, close to his people (see Exodus 25:8; Deuteronomy 12:11).
The believer could experience God’s nearness most closely in that place. Psalm 27:4 describes this in a beautiful way: One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
(Psalm 42:2; see also Psalm 84:1–4; Psalm 122:1–9).
and to inquire in his temple
In the New Testament, in the gospels and in the book of Acts, the temple plays a large role. Jesus went to the temple regularly; especially on Israel’s feast days you could find him there (John 2:13). It was there that he taught the people (Matthew 26:55; John 7:14).
And yet, something shifts in the meaning of the temple. Jesus himself indicates this in his conversation with the Samaritan woman: The hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
To worship God and to meet him can be done anywhere. The most important thing is that we do this in spirit and truth
(John 4:24). Especially the letter to the Hebrews shows that the earthly temple has lost its function, because our high priest Christ has entered the heavenly realms (Hebrews 9:24). But the praising of God may continue. Especially within the church of Christ, this may be practiced and enjoyed (1 Peter 2:4–6).
Praising God happens in various places: Praise him in his mighty heavens.
One may think specifically of heaven, as we read about it in Psalm 148:1: Praise the LORD from the heavens
(see also Psalm 11:4). Also in heaven, a choir sounds to praise the Lord abundantly.
From the entire creation; here on earth and in heaven above, songs of praise sound forth for the Creator.
1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!