Psalm 148--Praise the Name of the LORD

Psalm 148
English Standard Version

Praise the Name of the LORD
148 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 shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
    and you waters above the heavens!

5 Let them praise the name of the LORD!
    For he commanded and they were created.
6 And he established them forever and ever;
    he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

7 Praise the LORD from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
    stormy wind fulfilling his word!

9 Mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all livestock,
    creeping things and flying birds!

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
    princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together,
    old men and children!

​13 Let them praise the name of the LORD,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
    praise for all his saints,
    for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the LORD!

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The psalmist calls on all humanity to join with all creation--the angels of heaven, the stars in the heavens, the sun, the moon, and all the heavenly bodies.  We should join in the song they are singing to the LORD.  The psalmist also calls on the sea creatures and the weather--the hail, snow, mist, and stormy winds to join in the chorus.  The mountains and hills and all the livestock that live on them are also to join this song of worship--all the beasts of the field as well as the creeping things on the land and the birds that fly in the air.  Not one living thing is to be excluded.  They all have a part in this song.  Even the trees were included by the psalmists!  Specifically, the cedars of Lebanon, as were the fruit trees that covered the Land.  They too should play their part in praising the LORD.

The music that all creation is playing and singing should be a sign to the kings of the earth that the Creator God made creation to worship Him, and that these kings and their people have an important role to play, for the LORD actually gave us a voice to sing multiple melodies and harmonies.  The young and old, men and women, people who were wealthy and powerful and those who were poor and have seemingly nothing to offer other than their voices--they too should join the song.  Yes, even the children are to join along!

​Let everyone exalt the Name of the LORD and proclaim His majesty which is high above the heavens and the earth.  He has raised up a horn of strength and salvation for His people (that is Jesus), so that all the saints of God who have received salvation through the Messiah have even more reason to sing and praise His Name.  The psalmist calls on the nation of Israel and all of God's people to join together in praising Him and worshiping Him (even if the Gentile nations will not worship Him, those that are His chosen people should praise Him for who He is and what He has done for them).  The LORD is near to us and quick to rescue and save us when we cry out to Him.  Let the Name of the LORD be praise and highly exalted!