September 28, 2023 — Psalm 148

“Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! Praise him, sun and moon;

praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful,

for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the LORD!”

Psalm 146 is the first of five Hallelujah psalms that conclude the Psalter — so Psalm 148 is third in the group of five Hallelujah psalms that conclude the book. Psalm 148 is part of the book’s concluding section that offers and calls for praise to the Lord.

The first six verses then expound on that initial call to praise. All those who dwell in the heavens as well as the heavens themselves– both creatures and inanimate things — are called to give praise to G-d. 

We are to come before the Creator as G-d’s creatures, remembering that it is only because of G-d that we exist. As such, one of our main actions every day is to praise the Lord and give honor to G-d. Our little individual lives are only one small part of the great symphony of G-d’s creation, but it is a song of praise that will echo into eternity and never end. It reminds me of Hebrews 12:1: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…”

Psalms 146 – 150 are a call to praise the Lord. We envision that the angels and heavenly hosts are currently praising the Lord, and within dimensions that we just cannot understand, I believe that all the different parts of creation are also joining the song- the sun, moon and stars, ocean creatures, wind and snow, animals large and small. Each of them has their part in praising G-d. I don’t know about you, but when I spend time appreciating G-d’s creation, it moves me to give praise to G-d. As I see the power of the ocean, the majesty of the mountains, and the intricate detail of tiny plants and creatures, it points me to the One who made them all.

Let us Pray:

God Most High, by your Word you created a wondrous universe, and through your Spirit you breathed into it the breath of life. Accept creation’s hymn of praise from our lips, and let the praise that is sung in heaven resound in the heart of every creature on earth, to the glory of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.

Amen.

Pastor Dave