April 1
Reading: Psalm 148
1 Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
3 Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD!
For he commanded and they were created.
6 And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!
9 Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the LORD!
Psalm 148 is the third psalm in the Great Praise, Psalms 146-150. It begins and ends with “Praise the Lord.” Here, we are thinking not so much about why we should praise God, but who and what ought to do the praising. The heavens and the earth should praise the Lord. The structure of this psalm is clear.
vss. 1-6 The heavens are invited to praise Yahweh.
vss. 7-12 The earth is invited to praise Yahweh.
vss. 13-14 The name of Yahweh is exalted above heaven and earth. His people get to say so.
I love the picture of all the hosts of heaven, the sun moon and shining stars, and the clouds filled with rain, all of them praising the Lord. On the earth, the sea creatures, storms, mountains, hills, trees, animals, and birds are all invited to praise the Lord. And they do. All of creation is a choir gathered to sing praises to its creator.
A week ago, I awoke to the patter of rain outside, singing through the window. It was music saying, “the Lord provides.” The next day, I awoke to a loud chorus of birds singing the praises of God. I felt as if all the world was praising God. It was. I wish that the Lord would not feed my apricots to His squirrels, but He does, and they praise Him.
I think of the words of Jesus after the Pharisees had told Him to “rebuke Your disciples” because they were praising Him on His way into Jerusalem. But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” Luke 19:40
The only part of His creation that fails to praise Him as we ought are human beings. We withhold praise from our Creator when we ought to know better. We have the capacity to understand His provision and goodness better than the rocks and the squirrels, and yet we are silent. Be sure to open your mouth today and praise the one who made you and sustains you.
Praise the Lord!