Unknown
Psalm 148
Scripture (KJV)
1Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
2Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
4Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
5Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.
6He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
7Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
8Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
9Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
11Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
12Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
13Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
14He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord.
Summary
Psalm 148 is a cosmic call to praise that summons every level of creation to worship the Lord. It begins in the heavens: angels, hosts, sun, moon, stars of light, the highest heavens, and the waters above the heavens—all are to praise the name of the Lord, because at His command they were created and by His decree they stand forever. The call then descends to the earth: sea monsters and deeps, fire and hail, snow and vapor, stormy wind fulfilling His word, mountains and hills, fruit trees and cedars, beasts and cattle, creeping things and flying birds. Finally it gathers all humanity—kings, peoples, princes, judges, young men and maidens, old men and children—into one chorus of praise.
The reason for this universal summons is that the Lord’s name alone is excellent, His glory is above earth and heaven, and He has exalted the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints, the children of Israel, a people near to Him. The major themes are praise, creation, cosmic worship, the excellence of God’s name, and the nearness of His people. Practically, the psalm teaches that nothing in creation is silent before God and that human worship joins a chorus already in progress. The great lesson is that all creation, from the highest heavens to the creeping things, exists to praise the name of the Lord.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 148
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights. Praise Him, all His angels and hosts. Praise Him, sun and moon and stars of light; heavens of heavens and waters above the heavens. Let all praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created. Praise the Lord from the earth, you dragons and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and vapor, stormy wind fulfilling His word. Mountains and hills, fruit trees and cedars, beasts and cattle, creeping things and birds—praise Him. Kings and peoples, princes and judges, young men and maidens, old men and children—let us praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is excellent. Exalt the horn of Your people, and keep me near to You. Praise the Lord! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1What would it look like to join the chorus of creation in praise today?
- 2Which part of creation in this psalm most expands my vision of worship?
- 3How does the command to praise include both "stormy wind" and "old men and children"?
- 4What does it mean to be "a people near unto him" in light of cosmic praise?
Related Psalms
Psalm 147
“Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.”
Psalm 147 is a hymn of praise that moves with breathtaking ease between the cosmic and the intimate.
Read morePsalm 149
“Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.”
Psalm 149 is a call to joyful, embodied, even militant praise.
Read morePsalm 8
“O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.”
Wonder at God’s majesty in creation and the dignity He has given humanity.
Read morePsalm 19
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
God revealed in creation and Scripture, ending in a prayer of surrender.
Read morePsalm 103
“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”
Psalm 103 is a soaring hymn of thanksgiving for God’s mercies.
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