—Psalm 134:1.
I will praise Yahwe with my whole heart,
In the assembly of the upright and the congregation.
—Psalm 111:1.
Such pious Hebrews as the authors of Psalms 42-43 and 84 longed for the sanctuary because it was preëminently the place for worship and praise. Typical sanctuary hymns of praise are Psalms 150, 148, 147, 146, 145, 111, 135, 117, 113, 33, 115.
The external form of the hymn of praise is very simple. It is introduced by the call to praise, originally addressed by the priesthood of the sanctuary to the worshippers. The characteristic form of the call was: “Praise ye Yahwe,” “Hallelujah.” So Miriam called upon her Hebrew sisters to praise Yahwe when the victory had been gained at the Sea of Reeds over Pharaoh’s forces:
Praise ye Yahwe, for he hath triumphed;
Horse and rider hath he thrown into the sea.
—Exodus 15:21.
This call to praise was followed by the body of the hymn setting forth in participial phrases, adjectival clauses, or independent sentences the reasons why men should praise Yahwe. Then the hymn was rounded out in good symmetrical form with the same concluding call to praise:—“Hallelujah.”