Psalm 150

1  Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
2  Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3  Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
4  praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
5  praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
6  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.

The notes I have jotted in my Bible on Psalm 150 could be titled Five W’s and an H. I can’t tell you when I wrote them, or if they were my own thoughts or someone else’s. But they seem like good questions to ask of Psalm 150 on this Thanksgiving Day, or whatever day you are reading this post.

The five W’s and an H are: Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? Let’s apply these questions to Psalm 150.

Who? Everyone/everything alive (verse 6)

What? Praise the Lord (verses 1 & 6)

When? As long as we have breath (this is implied in verse 6)

Where? Wherever we are, including in church and in nature (verse 1)

Why? For who he is—for his power and greatness (verse 2)

How? With every imaginable style and instrument:
With dignity and solemnity (trumpet and harp—verse 3)
With enthusiasm (tambourine and dancing—v 4)
With joy and simple celebration (strings and flutes—verse 4)
With gusto (cymbals—verse 5)

Did we miss anything? What instrument or worship style would you add? What else would you praise God for? Can you find a little time and space today to take a few moments to join everything that has breath to Praise the Lord?

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Ginger