Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.
Psalm 148 has just called every level of creation to praise — angels, sun and stars, sea creatures, weather, mountains, animals, kings and children. This verse gives the reason: not what God has done, but who He is — a name that stands alone, and a majesty higher than earth and heaven.
The Reason Behind the Summons
Everything before this verse is a call. This verse is the reason for the call. One writer follows the psalm's order — heaven first, then earth — and ends by naming who this Creator is. (Some writers quote an older translation, which reads "His name alone is excellent" and "His glory is above the earth and heaven.")
J. N. DarbyPsalm 148 first calls on heaven, and all in it, to take its part in the great Hallelujah, and to praise Jehovah, who created them and keeps them in their place. Then it calls on the earth, and all in it, to join in praising Him whose name alone is excellent, and whose glory is above the earth and heaven — but who also lifts up the horn of His people, the praise of His saints, a people near to Him. The great Creator whom heaven and earth must praise is the God of Israel, and Israel is His people.
Praising the Name, Not Only the Acts
The verse does not say "praise Him for what He has done." It says praise His name. One writer sorts out the difference:
Leslie M. GrantPraise is vocal, "the fruit of our lips, confessing His name" (Heb. 13:15). Praise can be for the Person or for His work. "Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted" (Ps. 148:13). This is the praise of His name, that which He is. "Praise Him for His mighty acts" (Ps. 150:2) is of course praise for what He has done. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, is for something received.
Commentators differ on what "name" means here. Another writer takes it as the honour God has gained by what He has done:
J. G. BellettThe Lord Himself is praised, and His name is praised. His name, as distinct from Himself, is the varied honour and dignity He has gained by His mighty acts.
The Force of "Alone"
The word "alone" leaves no room for rivals. Names that stand high now must come down. One writer sets this in the millennium — the coming age when the curse is lifted from the earth.
L M GrantAll who were exalted before are brought down to nothing, so that the Lord alone stands exalted. He is worthy of the fullest praise of all creation. This chapter has stressed His glory in connection with heaven and then the earth, since that glory is seen "above the earth and heaven." This looks ahead to the millennium. Joined to this praise is the lifting up of "the horn of His people." The horn speaks of power now given to His saints, and especially to the children of Israel, "a people near to Him." Can any place be more precious than this?
Higher Than the Scene He Blesses
In this scene Israel's own majesty is lifted up. Yet the Lord praised in it stands above the whole scene.
J. G. BellettThis hallelujah, or song of praise, calls on heaven and earth and everything in them to join in celebrating the glory of the Lord. And it calls for this praise from Israel, whose horn — her majesty — has been lifted up, and to whom "the first dominion," as another Scripture puts it, has now come. The Lord Himself, however, is above all this millennial earth and heaven, in a glory that is His own. His name alone is excellent. (See Psalm 8)
The Day It Becomes Visible
Blight and curse still lie on creation. One writer places this verse in the future, and ties it to a Person.
F. B. HoleThe blight will be gone and the curse lifted when, as verse 13 tells us, the name of the Lord alone will be excellent and His glory revealed. We know how that will happen. Psalm 8 has told us. It will be when the blessed Son of Man is shown openly, with everything under His feet. Then the shouts will wake the heavens! Hallelujah! And again, Hallelujah!
One writer reads this psalm together with Romans 8:
G C WillisPsalm 148 and Romans 8 seem to give us good reason to include all creation in the homage due to "the Name JESUS."
Summary
- The Name is the reason. The psalm calls every creature, then gives one reason: His name alone is exalted. Praise goes to who He is, not only to what He has done.
- The Name is exclusive. "Alone" rules out rivals. Every other exalted name falls to nothing, so the Lord alone stands high.
- The Name overflows. His glory is above earth and heaven; even a restored world is too small to hold the One it praises.
- The Name reaches everything. Angels, stars, weather, animals, kings, young and old — writers extend this homage to all creation and to the name of Jesus.
- The Name will be owned. Blight and curse still lie on the earth. Both go when the Son of Man appears with everything under His feet — and the answer is Hallelujah.