As the "Psalm of the Month " series closes with the end of the secular year, I feel it should close with the last Psalm in the Psalter, Psalm 150. This is a Psalm of praise and joy. 

Hallelujah.
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His abundant greatness.
Praise Him with the blast of the horn;
Praise Him with the psaltry and harp.
Praise Him with timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
Praise Him with loud-sounding cymbals;
Praise Him with clanging cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.
Hallelujah.

The musical instruments mentioned in the psalm vary in different translations of the psalm. Perhaps this is because some of the original instruments, that were used during the time of the temple, no longer exist. Organs, flutes, drums, and trumpets are mentioned in these translations. In my painting, I used instruments that were familiar and more modern than the lost Temple instruments.

This Psalm tells us that God is everywhere and should be praised by the whole earth in any spiritual way that the worshiper can find. Music, dance, singing and any talent that the worshiper possesses can be used to praise God. Hallelujah means "Praise the Lord" in Hebrew.

In the painting, eleven musicians and one singer lead the praise of God in a joyous song or hymn. I hope the painting shows the intensity of joy that was and is a part of Jewish worship of God.

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