Psalm 150

Summary: Praise the Lord!

Response: No, seriously, that's it. No smiting, no persecution, no history. We put it all aside because, whether because of or in spite of all of that, God is worthy of our praise.

Psalm 149

Summary: The psalmist praises God for delivering His people (as they exact revenge on their enemies).

Response: One more... just one more psalm and I'm done...

Psalm 148

Summary: The psalmist describes the cosmos, telling each part large and small to praise God for creating and sustaining it.

Response: God is great and worthy of praise. I find little to argue over here.

Psalm 147

Summary: The psalmist focuses on the Israelites and their relationship with God. He saves them and provides for them, so they should give Him praise.

Response: Again, my mind pushes me towards a "pay it forward" mentality. God's done amazing things for me, too, and my actions should reflect that by giving to those around me.

Psalm 146

Summary: The psalmist [David] is determined to praise God as long as he lives. God is worthy of that praise, helping the least among us.

Response: Caution: I may be extrapolating a bit here.

A lot of times, I wonder how we can stray so far from "help people" as a main tenet of faith. I wonder if the logic goes that God says, "be holy for I am holy" and takes that to mean we should exclude ourselves from "undesirable" people. When, in this psalm, we see God helping especially those people, as if to say (to me anyway), this is what holy looks like lived out. And that's quite the challenge for me!

[EDIT: that ain't David yo]

Psalm 145

Summary: David goes all in on praising God, promising to do so continually. From what He is to what He does for those He loves, for His mercy and authority, He is worthy of praise.

Response: God, You are all this and more. Help me to keep finding new ways to praise You!