All Creation Is Called to Praise the Lord

148:1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the sky! Praise him in the heavens! 148:2 Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his heavenly assembly! 148:3 Praise him, O sun and moon! Praise him, all you shiny stars! 148:4 Praise him, O highest heaven, and you waters above the sky! 148:5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he gave the command and they came into existence. 148:6 He established them so they would endure; he issued a decree that will not be revoked. 148:7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea creatures and all you ocean depths, 148:8 O fire and hail, snow and clouds, O stormy wind that carries out his orders, 148:9 you mountains and all you hills, you fruit trees and all you cedars, 148:10 you animals and all you cattle, you creeping things and birds, 148:11 you kings of the earth and all you nations, you princes and all you leaders on the earth, 148:12 you young men and young women, you elderly, along with you children! 148:13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty extends over the earth and sky. 148:14 He has made his people victorious, and given all his loyal followers reason to praise – the Israelites, the people who are close to him. Praise the Lord! Psalm 149

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Psalm 148 calls every part of creation to praise the Lord. The heavens, the earth, all creatures, all people, and especially Israel are summoned to worship him because he made all things, keeps them by his word, and has drawn near to his people.

This psalm is a great call to worship. It starts in the highest heavens and then moves down to the earth. Angels, sun, moon, stars, weather, mountains, animals, rulers, young people, old people, and children are all told to praise the Lord. The point is that nothing in creation is outside his rule.

The reason for this praise is clear. God gave the command, and creation came into being. He fixed it by his decree, and it remains because of him. The world is not self-made. It is held in place by the Lord who speaks and rules.

The psalm then turns to God’s people. Israel is singled out as the people who are close to him. This shows covenant mercy. God is not only great over all creation. He is also near to the people he has blessed.

The psalm ends by saying that the Lord’s name alone is exalted and his majesty reaches over earth and sky. So the right response is praise from all creation, and especially from those whom God has drawn near to himself.

• God alone is worthy of praise.
• All creation belongs under his rule.
• The heavens and the earth exist because God commanded them.
• God sustains the order of the world by his decree.
• No rank or age is exempt from worship.
• God’s majesty extends over all the earth and sky.
• Israel is called the people who are close to him.
• Praise is both the duty and privilege of God’s people.

• Praise the Lord from the heavens and from the earth.
• Let every creature and every person praise his name.
• Do not treat creation as if it were self-made or independent.
• Do not flatten the psalm into generic spirituality detached from the Lord of covenant and creation.
• Take comfort that God has drawn near to his people and given them reason to praise.

Psalm 148 fits the Bible’s big picture by showing the Creator worthy of universal worship and by highlighting his special nearness to his covenant people. Later Scripture develops the theme of all things being made through and held together by the Son, so this psalm fits the larger story of God’s rule over creation and his saving purpose for his people.

Praise should shape all of life. The young and old, rulers and ordinary people, should honor the Lord who made them. Believers should remember that the world is not random but ordered by God’s word. They should also thank him for covenant mercy, since he has drawn near and given his people reason to rejoice.

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