Psalm cl. (Laudate Dominum in sanctis.)
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Alleluia. This invitation is addressed to the sacred ministers, as the people and all creatures had been already exhorted to praise God. (Calmet) — This psalm was sung when the first-fruits were brought to the temple. (Selden, Syn. 3.) — The Lord. Hebrew el, “God.” (Haydock) — Places. Hebrew, “his sanctuary,” (Haydock) or heaven. (Calmet) — All both in heaven and earth sound forth his praises.
Ver. 2. Acts. Ye, for whom miracles have been wrought, praise him as much as you are able, though you cannot do it sufficiently. (Worthington)
Ver. 3. Trumpet. This instrument was reserved for priests, Numbers x. 2. The nine others might be used by Levites. (Calmet) — The precise signification of them is not known. (Berthier)
Ver. 4. Choir….Strings. Unity and mortification are requisite to make our praises acceptable, as strings are made of the bowels of beasts. (Worthington)
Ver. 5. Spirit. Wind instrument, (Menochius) or man, who is bound to praise God, even more than the angels, as Christ has assumed his nature, and will bring him to sing with them Alleluia. (Worthington) — Let “all that breathes” praise, (Berthier) including every living creature, (Calmet) as well as the celestial spirits. (Haydock) — Alleluia is not in Septuagint, Syriac, &c. But it is in the Hebrew, and no word could answer better for a conclusion of the psalms, which are almost wholly employed in the divine praises. This ought to be our occupation both on earth, and in heaven. Amen. (Calmet) — Pope Damasus, A.D. 380, ordered the Glory, &c., to be added to each of the psalms, as it has been since observed. (Worthington) — An apocryphal psalm, concerning David encountering Goliath, occurs in many Greek and Latin copies; but it is of no authority. (Calmet)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
An exhortation to praise God with all sorts of instruments.
1 Alleluia.
Praise ye the Lord in his holy places: praise ye him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise ye him for his mighty acts: praise ye him according to the multitude of his greatness.
3 Praise him with sound of trumpet: praise him with psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with timbrel and choir: praise him with strings and organs.
5 Praise him on high sounding cymbals: praise him on cymbals of joy: let every spirit praise the Lord. Alleluia.