John Mark Hicks

Psalm 149 invites the faithful to sing a new song with dancing and music in celebration of God’s deliverance because God delights in the people and has glorified (or beautified) them in God’s deliverance. The Psalm calls Judah to praise God with their mouths as they celebrate the divine victory through festive celebration. Given their […]

“Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah”–it was #148 in my hymnbook growing up. I loved singing it because it called even “dragons” to praise the Lord (according to KJV). The hymn is based on Psalm 148. Psalm 148 invites all heaven and earth to praise God from their heights to their depths. Yahweh is praised as creator of […]

Don’t trust in rulers; they are but dust. Trust in the God of Jacob who is our help and hope. Follower the way of the Lord which seeks justice, heals the sick, liberates the oppressed, cares for the stranger, widow, and orphan, and feeds the hungry. The way of the wicked does not pay attention […]

Psalm 135, along with Psalm 136, is the Great Hallel, the praise and blessing the pilgrim offers in the temple courts (where God dwells). Those who have ascended the holy mountain and now stand at the top of the steps in the court with the priests and Levites declare God’s goodness, beauty, and election of […]

[An English version is available here.] En algún momento, el Salmo 145:21 pudo haber sido la doxología final de los Salmos. Hace un comentario similar al Salmo 150:6. Salmo 145:21 aparece como la doxología final del Libro V del Salterio.  Los libros I-IV concluyen con doxologías independientes adjuntas a los salmos finales de esos libros. […]