Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created. Psalm 148:5
Psalm 148 The psalmist exclaims, “Praise the Lord,” and calls on all in the heavens to join Him. Praise also echoes from the earth building to a crescendo as one by one all of Creation joins in the shouts of praise.
“The people close to His heart” (148:14). It’s not favoritism for God to hold Israel close to His heart. It’s both divine freedom and divine grace. Freedom, because God chose Israel without reference to Abraham’s merits or the merits of his descendants. Grace, because through Israel God planned to make a way fo salvation for all humankind. The wonder is that God cared for our sinful race at all. Today, the wonder is that it is you and me who, despite our flaws, are held close to God’s heart.
148:1-5 Praise Him: All of the universe is called to boast of the wonder of God. In this first section, praise is commanded from all aspects of the heavens above, including the angelic hosts. The language waters above the heavens comes from the creation story in Gen. 1:7. He commanded: Genesis 1 describes creation as a spontaneous response to the word of God (33:9; 147:15).
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 stars of light! 4 Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created. 6 He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away.
148:7, 8 The focus of the psalm switches to the earth. All hosts above and all creatures below are to praise our great God. Great sea creatures: This includes real sea creatures that inspired awe and wonder, as well as creatures of mythology that the Canaanites had made into gods. Israel called on all creatures to praise God – both those that are His creation and those that their neighbors believed to be gods. In this way, every principality and power, every creature known and unknown, was called to worship God. Fire and hail: All natural phenomena are at God’s command.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, You great sea creatures and all the depths; 8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
148:14 the horn of His people: The people are pictured here as an animal whose strength is in its horn. Near: When we consider the meaning of God’s holiness (99:1, Is. 6:3), the marvel that He approaches us to mercifully provide for us becomes overwhelming.
14 And He has exalted the horn of His people, The praise of all His saints– Of the children of Israel, A people near to Him. Praise the Lord!
** When we think of the entire universe praising God, the hearts of His people will swell with joy. Only the humankind is invited to get to know God as the creator and sovereign ruler of the universe. All other creatures unconsciously reflect His glorious work for our eyes to see. Instead of giving praise, the creator has been rejected, ridiculed and executed. It is a marvel and He did not give up and destroy us all. We will all stand up in awe when hear the entire universe singing Halleluiah like we do at the performance of Handel’s Messiah.
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 stars of light! 4 Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created. 6 He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, You great sea creatures and all the depths; 8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word; 9 Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars; 10 Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl; 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; 12 Both young men and maidens; Old men and children. 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. 14 And He has exalted the horn of His people, The praise of all His saints– Of the children of Israel, A people near to Him. Praise the Lord!