Let Earth Praise!
TRANSLATION
(7) Praise Yahweh from the earth, sea creatures and all ocean depths, (8) fire and hail, snow and fog, stormy winds that do his bidding, (9) mountains and all hills, fruit bearing 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 judges on earth, (12) young men along with maidens, old men together with youths. (13) Let them praise the name of Yahweh, for his name is exalted and his glory is above earth and heaven! (14) He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints and for the sons of Israel, a people near to him. HALLELUJAH!
OBSERVATIONS
The opening six verses of this psalm, yesterday’s study, were marked by repetitions of the command, “Praise him...” This second segment contains one command, “Praise Yahweh from the earth” (vs. 7), followed by a listing of all those things on earth that should praise him. This roll call began with sea creatures in the ocean depths (vs. 7) and ended with everyone young and old (vs. 12).
The final two verses served as a fitting conclusion to the psalm. Verse 13 summarized the message of verses 1-12 that all creation in the heavens above and the earth beneath should praise Yahweh. The final verse described how Yahweh had richly blessed his covenant nation. The psalm concluded as it began with the exclamation, “Hallelujah!” Repetitions in this segment included the word for “praise” used three times (vss. 7, 13, & 14) two mentions of “Yahweh” (vss. 7 & 13), two occurrences of “name” (vs. 13), and two of “people” (vs. 14).
OUTLINE
I. What should those on earth do? Praise Yahweh. (7-12)
II. Why should those on earth praise Yahweh? We praise him because of his great glory and special care for his covenant nation, Israel. (13 & 14)
IDEA STATEMENT
All creatures on earth, especially the beneficiaries of his saving grace, should continually praise Yahweh.
APPLICATION
Consider the following declaration from the pen of the Apostle Paul: “For by him (Jesus) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:16 & 17). Note Paul’s use of four key prepositions to express the greatness of the Son:
BY – He is the creator of all things, the one through whom everything came into existence (vs. 16).
FOR – He is why all things were created, the one for whose glory everything exists (vs. 16).
BEFORE – He is the uncreated one, existing eternally, independent of all created things (vs. 17).
IN – He sustains all things and upholds everything by his divine power (vs. 17).
This was precisely the message of Psalm 148, namely, that Yahweh who has now been revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, should receive praise from both the heavens (vss. 1-6) and the earth (vss. 7-14) because he created all things and sustains all things by his divine power. Truly he is worthy of every expression of praise we can offer him now and throughout eternity.