Ps. 148:0 THE ARGUMENT. The nature of this Psalm is for substance the same with the former, containing an invitation to all the creatures to praise God for his manifold blessings.

From the heavens; all the host of heaven, which he particularly expresseth in the following verses. In the heights; in those high and heavenly places.

He inviteth the angels here, and the senseless creatures afterward, to praise God; not as if the former needed, or the latter were capable of, his exhortation, but only by a poetical rapture; the design whereof is, that men by this means might be more provoked to this duty.

Sun and moon; you which are adored by the blind heathens for gods, you are but his creatures, and therefore were obliged, if you were capable, to worship and praise him for your glorious light and powerful influences.

Ye heavens of heavens; ye highest and most glorious heavens, the place of God’s throne and glorious presence, as this phrase is used, Deut. 10:14, 1 Kings 8:27, Neh. 9:6, Ps. 115:16. Or, ye starry heavens, which also may well be so called, because they are above the air, which is oft.

They owe their being wholly to God’s good will.

Stablished them for ever and ever; either absolutely, as to the substance of them, or at least to the end of the world. He hath made them constant and incorruptible, not changeable and perishing, as the things of the lower world are.

Either, 1. Dragons and serpents, which abide in the deep caverns and holes of the earth; or, 2. Whales or other sea-monsters, which dwell in the depths of the sea, which are oft called by this name, as Job 7:12, Ezek.

Fire; lightnings and other fire-works of the air. Vapours, or fumes; hot exhalations, as the word properly signifies, as cold exhalations are comprehended under the title of snow. And both of them, arising from the earth, are here fitly mentioned as belonging to it.

Admirable for your height, and strength, and use, though not for your fruit.

Kings of the earth; who, though you are called gods, and adored like gods by your subjects, yet are but men, and the creatures and subjects of this sovereign Lord, to whom you owe both your being, and all your power and dignity.

Not so much in place as in excellency, above all the glories which are in earth and in heaven.

Exalteth the horn of his people, to wit, above the horns of all the people in the world, in respect of their spiritual and eternal privileges, as it here follows. The horn in Scripture doth commonly note strength, victory, glory, and felicity, as Deut. 33:17, and everywhere. The praise; either, 1.