Psalms 148:1-14
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!
O, creation, praise the LORD of all creation, of water, earth, and sky! Praise Him from the heavens and the heaven of heavens above and beyond there (1 Kings 8:27, Nehemiah 9:6), for all He has made owes Him honor and praise. He is seated above all the universe which He has created, and it is His due to be worshiped with awe and thanksgiving for all and from all His handiwork. Yes, praise is due from the angelic beings around His throne, from the sun and moon and stars giving us light, from the waters which fall on the earth and even from the heavens themselves. Praise is due from His creation in all forms, for He has formed us all by the word from His mouth uttered to bring into being that which He imagined and planned to be in existence. He also commanded that what He made should endure eternally, that it goes on until or unless He commands otherwise; this is an assurance of eternity of life for us, and an certain hope that all the sun, moon, and stars will remain until He rolls them up (Isaiah 34:4, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 6:14). We do not have to fear doomsday stories that depart from God’s plan found in His word, for they only put praise on man’s ability to control what he has not made and cannot alter. We trust God’s working and word instead. His word as decreed cannot be altered nor abrogated; what God has willed and made exist for Him and to Him, therefore all praise is His alone. Praise comes from all of the natural world to honor God for their existence and sustenance (Matthew 6:26), as well as the elements themselves such as the rains and storms which move at His command to do all His good pleasure. Yes, and these examples should drive rulers to honor God with praise as well, politicians, judges and citizens alike. Young and old, men and women, we all owe the Lord of lords and sovereign King of kings our praise and worship of obedience with thankful hearts, minds, and lives. Yes, may we all join in with praises to His name for making and sustaining us, exalting His name with honor and holiness in response. Since He has raised up a chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6, 1 Peter 2:4, 9) whom have been called out from His creation to serve Him, we as the saints called holy in Christ’s righteousness, who have been called near to Him, we should as that people praise Him as Israel and Gentile to His glory. Let we all who know Him, Praise the LORD!
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