In this Psalm Israel's relation with this general or universal praise is then taken up. This is the great earthly millennial result, but connected, as we have seen, with a sphere beyond it—all Creation. " Praise Jah" is still the key note.
1. "Praise Jehovah from the heavens" (v. 7), "Praise from the earth." In the heavens are we, but this is not the subject of the Old Testament word—this mystery hidden from ages and generations, but we know our place in it—and all the creatures in them are to praise Jehovah who created them. Then from the earth—and here "The kings of the earth" come in, and "All people, princes, and all judges of the earth"—they are to praise the Name of Jehovah, "For His name alone is exalted; his glory above earth and heaven." But "He had elevated the horn of his people"—He is the praise of all His chasidim (holy ones) even of the children of Israel, "A people near to him." As power was shown in the former Psalm in act, and so the place of praise—Israel and Creation are shown here, as alluded to at the close of it, in the millennial Hallelu-jah.
This and the following Psalm celebrate these two—universal Creation, and Israel separately—verse 14 (Psa. 148) taking care to bring in their special favor and glory in it, "A people near unto him." A little attention will show the drawing out in the Psalm, in their various order, above and from the earth, and then the moral powers (subject to Messiah) called by Him to praise Jah Jehovah, whose glory is above (now) earth and heavens; and therefore they and all in them called to praise Him. But while His glory is above them, "He exalted the horn of his people... a people near unto him"; compare Eph. 1, at the close.