Psalms 148

Psalms 148:1-14

Creation’ s Song of Praise Psalms 148:1-14 The “ Benedicite” in the Book of Common Prayer is based on this psalm. The sacred minstrel is not content that he or his people should have a monopoly of praise. He calls to nature, with her myriad voices, to take up the strain. It is interesting to turn these words from the imperative to the indicative mood, for already the heights and depths around us are vocal. The sun leads the chorus, and the moon plays upon her silver harp. The stars “ quire to the young-eyed cherubim.” The deeps praise for depths of love, the mountains for its height, the fruit trees for its sweetness, while the great forest monarchs, their branches swaying in the wind, “ clap their hands.” Surely the children of God should awake from their lethargy!

Can we be redeemed and dumb? Saved and silent? Delivered and made “ near,” and no word of gratitude? Let us, as we read this psalm, remember also that there is a praise note for the fire of tribulation and the hail of abusive scorn. The saints have long ago praised God in the fires. The stormy wind or adversity, no less than the zephyrs of prosperity, fulfills His purpose and deserves our trust.

Praise Him, all His angels! The universe is summoned to praise God. When Mr. Jane way was dying, he said: “Come, help me with praises!–yet all is too little. Come, help me, all ye mighty and glorious angels, who are so well skilled in the heavenly work of praise! Praise Him, all ye creatures upon earth! Let everything that hath being help me to praise God! Praise is now my work. I shall be engaged in this sweet employ now and forever.” Similarly in our loftiest hours we turn to these Psalms and find that their expressions fit the tumultuous rush of our emotions.

Psalms 148:1. Praise ye the Lord! Gloria in excelsis!

Psalms 148:2. Praise Him, all his angels! (Psalms 103:20-21) Not angels only, but all other created intelligences are to sound out Jehovah’s praise.

Psalms 148:3. Praise Him, sun and moon! Here is the fabled music of the spheres.

Psalms 148:4. Praise Him, ye heavens! And ye waters! The very clouds, dark and sombre, or steeped in glory, praise Him. And all the immensities of space are vocal. Storey upon storey, the whole is one temple of unceasing adoration. Psalms 148:6. He hath stablished! Two things are here: the permanence and the order of creation, which shall not be impaired, though the Lord shall make new heavens and new earth, any more than man loses his identity when passing through the dust of death. What a marvellous miracle is continually in process around us in the renewal and maintenance of creation! And remember that all is directly due to our blessed Lord, to whom these praises are ascribed (Colossians 1:15-19).

Psalms 148:7. Dragons, i.e., sea-monsters (R V marg.).

Psalms 148:8. Fire, and hail! The tempests which sweep our lives have music in their hearts. There is a chord in the rush of every storm. Let us praise God in unison! All stormy winds only fulfil His command.

Psalms 148:9.We speak of the silence of the hills. But they too have a voice. Every tree claps its hands or sings in its myriad leaves (Psalms 95:4; Isaiah 55:12).

Psalms 148:10. Beasts, and all cattle The lowing of the cattle; the songs of the birds; the hum of the insects–all are indispensable notes in the great hallelujah chorus.

Psalms 148:11.Kings and all peoples (see Psalms 72:11; Proverbs 8:15-16).

Psalms 148:12-13. Young men and maidens; old men and children “The Psalms are Church songs, and all who from her congregations should join in them.”

Psalms 148:14. “A people near unto Him.““Far off … made nigh” (Ephesians 2:13).