Show Don't Tell: Psalm 150

Instead of saying "Praise God with everything," play the full orchestra. The finale. "Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens." Where: sanctuary and heavens—earth and sky. "Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness." Why: power and greatness. Then how—the instruments: "Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals." Trumpet—loud, announcing. Harp and lyre—melodic, beautiful. Timbrel and dancing—rhythmic, embodied. Strings and pipe—delicate, harmonious. Cymbals clashing, cymbals resounding—percussive, overwhelming. The crescendo: "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD." Everything breathing. Every creature with lungs. Universal, final, complete. "Praise the LORD." The Psalter ends where it began—at praise. From Psalm 1's blessed person to Psalm 150's breathing creation. Five books. 150 poems. One destination: praise.