Somebody has once said that nature abhors a vacuum; well, from all I’d seen, I would say that nature dislikes anything that doesn’t produce.”
–Louis L’Amour (Hanging Woman Creek)
“Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has saved you from your enemies.”
–Psalm 107:2 (NLT)
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Psalm 148 continues with the thought of praising the Lord. What did Jesus mean when he said if the people kept quiet that the “stones will cry out”? (Luke 19:40) This portion of Psalm 148 speaks of nature praising God. I like what William Petersen says, “Anyone and any thing can praise God by fulfilling the purpose for which it was created. In this way nonhuman creations glorify God by their daily existence.” Let’s look again at this wonderful psalm of praise.
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! (NKJV)
“Every principality and power, every creature known and unknown, was called to worship God.” (NKJV Study Bible) Look at this–God is praised by His creation. And notice verse 8, His sovereignty created them and He directs their activity. The NIV puts it this way, they “do his bidding.” It is true that storms destroy, but after the storm comes a time of refreshing and rebuilding. George Wood puts a question to each of us in this regard: “Will you trust the Lord that your own storm ‘will do His bidding’–that what devastated you will become the means by which the Lord repairs or rebuilds you into an even more beautiful habitation of His Spirit?” We see in the first part of this psalm the praise coming from creation that shows His sovereignty, His glory, His greatness, His goodness, and His power.
The psalm now turns to mankind. With all of creation praising the Lord, man should enter and join with them. All things are invited to praise God, now man should do so as well. Every human should praise Him from the great to children. Yet, man is slow to respond and many do not. Many reject this wonderful opportunity that God provides to praise Him. Oh the shame…
There is one more group who is called to praise the Lord–the throng of the redeemed. God is to be exalted! Just look at what He has done for you and me. First, He provided salvation, redemption and reconciliation to the Father. WOW! No one else is worthy of that praise for He alone could do such a thing. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” (William J. Kirkpatrick with a modern version by Josh Baldwin) Sing praises, shout praises, contemplate praises, have praises of reverence and magnify the Lord your Redeemer. The “horn” symbolizes that He is your strength and power. He is your hope and salvation. Praise Him with your voice, praise Him by fulfilling the purpose for which you were created and called. Praise Him in the good times and the times of trouble. Don’t get so caught up in your troubles and self-preservation that you lose sight of the Lord. Go back to Him and give Him praise.
“‘Let the redeemed of the Lord say so:’
Have we the peace in our heart?
Peace like a river that constantly flows,
Gladness and joy to import?”
–William J. Kirkpatrick