Psalms 150:3
Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Psalms 150:3
Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse isn't just about musical instruments; it's about using every resource—even powerful ones like trumpets—to declare God's greatness. The ancient Hebrew word for trumpet, "shofar," originally referred to a ram's horn, highlighting the raw, natural power being redirected for divine praise.
This psalm is the grand finale of the entire Psalter, bursting with a call for all creation to praise God. It begins by urging praise within God's holy dwelling and across the vast heavens, then moves to celebrating His mighty deeds and overflowing greatness. The focus then shifts to specific instruments of music, each enlisted to join in this ultimate expression of worship.
Ever wondered why so many different instruments are mentioned in praise? It’s not just about making noise; it’s about a comprehensive offering.
Psalm 150 is a grand finale, calling for all creation to praise God. In verse 3, a variety of instruments are listed: the trumpet, lute, and harp. While we might not know the exact sound of every ancient instrument, the point is clear: God’s people were meant to use a diverse range of musical expressions in worship.
Think about it: the trumpet, often a loud and commanding sound, could represent a call to assemble or a declaration of God's might. The lute and harp, stringed instruments, likely offered more melodic and sustained sounds, perhaps for more intimate or reflective praise. The ancient commentators highlight that these weren't just random choices; they were integral to the worship practices of Israel, used in both religious services and significant historical moments.
This rich variety in musical expression wasn't just for show. It points to the multifaceted nature of God Himself and the many ways His people can respond to Him. It’s about offering the best of what we have, using all the resources available, to bring glory to the Creator.
We can play all the right notes and blow all the right horns, but does that truly honor God?
While Psalm 150:3 emphasizes the means of praise—the instruments—the ultimate focus is always on the heart behind the praise. The commentators wisely remind us that these musical sounds are only significant if they are connected to genuine devotion.
True worship isn't just about external performance; it's about internal disposition. It involves "strong faith, and with holy love and delight," as one commentator puts it. It’s about a heart that trusts in Christ, rejoices in God's goodness, and actively seeks to obey His commands.
When music is used in worship, it should enhance and direct our affections toward God. It’s a tool to help us express the praise that is already welling up within us because of who God is and what He has done. Without this inner reality, the most beautiful music can become mere noise, as insignificant as "sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal."
Understand the original words
šōp̄ār · Hebrew Noun
A wind instrument (shofar) typically made from a ram's horn, used in Israel for signaling, warfare, and significant religious celebrations.
nēḇel · Hebrew Noun
A stringed instrument (nebel) often used in temple worship and prophetic contexts to provide musical accompaniment for praise.
kinnōr · Hebrew Noun
A stringed instrument (kinnor) associated with joy, celebration, and the soothing power of music in the presence of the Lord.
This psalm is a call to praise that echoes the rich tradition of instrumental music in Israel's worship, from the Exodus to the Second Temple period, emphasizing the continuity of God's people using all available means to glorify Him.
c. 1446 BC
Giving of the Law at Sinai
God gives the Law to Moses, including instructions for musical instruments like trumpets in worship (e.g., Leviticus 25:9).
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
King David organizes the musical worship in Jerusalem, appointing Levites to play instruments like harps and psalteries in the Tabernacle (1 Chronicles 15:16-22).
c. 950 BC
Solomon's Temple Dedicated
The dedication of Solomon's Temple features a massive choir and orchestra, with 120 priests blowing trumpets (2 Chronicles 5:12-13).
c. 722 BC
Fall of Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian conquest of Israel leads to the loss of many worship traditions and instruments in the northern tribes.
c. 622 BC
This passage highlights the importance of understanding in worship, contrasting mindless praise with heartfelt expression, much like the Psalms emphasize using instruments to enhance, not replace, sincere devotion.
Revelation 5:8This verse describes heavenly worship where the four living creatures and elders offer golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints, and also sing a new song, echoing the call in Psalms to bring all instruments and voices to praise.
Exodus 15:20Miriam and the women use timbrels and dancing to celebrate God's deliverance at the Red Sea, showing that music and expressive praise have a long history in Israel's worship, even before the detailed instructions of the Law.
Psalm 81:3This psalm also calls for the sounding of the trumpet and other instruments during appointed times, reinforcing the idea that specific occasions call for specific, and often loud and joyous, expressions of praise to God.
Ephesians 5:19This New Testament passage encourages singing and making melody in the heart with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, connecting the ancient practice of instrumental praise with the ongoing spiritual music of the believer's heart.
bensonPsalms 150:3: "Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp."
Psalm 150:3-5 . Praise him with the sound of the trumpet, &c. — “It is impossible for us to distinguish,” says Dr. Horne, “and describe the several sorts of musical instruments here mentioned, as the Hebrews themselves acknowledge their ignorance in this particular. Thus much is clear, that the people of God were enjoined to use all the various kinds of them in the performance of their divine servic…
pulpitPsalms 150:3: "Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp."
Verse 3. - Praise him with the sound of the trumpet, (On the use of the trumpet in Divine service, see Leviticus 23:24; Leviticus 25:9; Numbers 10:10; 2 Samuel 6:15; 1 Chronicles 13:8; 1 Chronicles 15:24; 1 Chronicles 16:6; 2 Chronicles 5:12, 13; 2 Chronicles 7:6; 2 Chronicles 29:27; Psalm 81:3; Psalm 98:6.) Praise him with the psaltery and harp (comp. Psalm 57:8; Psalm 81:2; Psalm 108:2; 1 Chronicl…
This verse isn't just about musical instruments; it's about using every resource—even powerful ones like trumpets—to declare God's greatness. The ancient Hebrew word for trumpet, "shofar," originally referred to a ram's horn, highlighting the raw, natural power being redirected for divine praise.
This psalm is the grand finale of the entire Psalter, bursting with a call for all creation to praise God. It begins by urging praise within God's holy dwelling and across the vast heavens, then moves to celebrating His mighty deeds and overflowing greatness. The focus then shifts to specific instruments of music, each enlisted to join in this ultimate expression of worship.
This psalm is the grand finale of the entire Psalter, bursting with a call for all creation to praise God. It begins by urging praise within God's holy dwelling and across the vast heavens, then moves to celebrating His mighty deeds and overflowing greatness. The focus then shifts to specific instruments of music, each enlisted to join in this ultimate expression of worship.
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Josiah's Religious Reforms
King Josiah rediscovers the Book of the Law and reinstitutes proper worship, including the use of instruments (2 Chronicles 34:3-7).
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonian conquest results in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, with many musical instruments likely lost or repurposed.
c. 450 BC— this verse
Post-Exilic Temple Worship
After the return from exile, worship is re-established in the Second Temple, with musical instruments continuing to be an integral part of praise (Ezra 3:10).
"Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!" — This verse isn't just about musical instruments; it's about using every resource—even powerful ones like trumpets—to declare God's greatness. The ancient Hebrew word for trumpet, "shofar," original…