The 150 biblical psalms go out with a bang. The fireworks of doxology grow loudest just before we fold up our lawn chairs and head for our cars. The penultimate psalm urges the faithful to populate Israel’s public spaces with the kinds of shouting, dancing, and musical bombast that invigorate a people and cause YHWH to gaze upon his own with a satisfied smile:
Praise the LORD!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the godly!
Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
For the LORD takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation. (Psalm 149: 14-4 ESV)
Yet in an exquisite touch Israel’s loud gratitude overflows as well into solitude, where quiet ordinarily prevails.
Let the godly exult in glory;
let them sing for joy on their beds.
Perhaps praise comes into its most genuine moment when it echoes past closing time. Back at home, the curtains drawn for the night, the coffeemaker prepped for the morning, the dog in his bed, the godly in their pajamas find one last reason at day’s end to sing as the lights go out. Even when no one is watching, this grateful couple, that old man tucking himself in, can’t stop singing.
Canter Bridge 
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