Psalm 148 - Praise the Lord from the heavens, Praise the Lord from the earth

1) Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
2) Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!

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) He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed

7) Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,
8) fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9) Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
10) Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!

11) Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
12) Young men and women alike, old and young together!
13) Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.
14) He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!

 Psalm 148 (NRSV)
1st Sunday after Christmas, Year C
5th Sunday of Easter/small>

I love this psalm. Praise does not come naturally to me, but this helps, to see and hear (even in imagination) this laundry-list of all creation praising God! It would not surprise me in the slightest if this psalm underlies that famous hymn of St. Francis, "Bother Sun, Sister Moon."

If you know me, you will know that I don't praise or even flatter if my heart is not in it. If you hear a good word from me, it is a true word. So my praise for the Lord is not based upon God's star power, but on God's claim on my heart, by virtue of God's character. Worthy to be praised, for God is loving, God is saving, God is just, God is merciful, God is the author of good, and the end of no-good. God exalts the lowly, and yes, God presides over the death of evil. Hallelujah!

There are times when we are privileged enough to first notice, then exult in the glory of the world around us. Do you stop to smeall the roses, or gaze up to the sky? Maybe you can remember some of those noteworthy moments in your life, where the infinite expanse, the tiniest details, the sheer beauty of creation broke through. Our pastor and friend Bob Wilson was find of saying "Whatta God!"

Perhaps greatest of all, is that in faith, we see that there is a moral arc to the universe, and it bends towards justice and care, one for another. It makes me want to sing with Sun and moon, "What a mighty God we serve!" In faith, we dream all of creation joining in praise of this amazing, generous and generative power.

We must also note that the psalm knows this is personal. I and my people are included in the bountiful outpouring of goodness. God blesses the universe, and that includes me.

So Let us praise the name of the Lord! His name is exalted above all, and his glory is above - and also throughout - earth and heaven.




Credits:
Unknown artist, Space Orbit Galaxy Night Planets Sky Earth Sun, Public domain (CC0 1.0).

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Psalm 68 - Proclaim the power of God

Image
Jump to end of psalm For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song. 1) May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him. 2) May you blow them away like smoke— as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God. 3) But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. 4) Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. 5) A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. 6) God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. 7) When you, God, went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, 8) the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Is
Read more

Psalm 142 - My persecutors are too strong for me

Image
Jump to end of psalm A Maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A Prayer. 1) With my voice I cry to the Lord; with my voice I make supplication to the Lord. 2) I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. 3) When my spirit is faint, you know my way. In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. 4) Look on my right hand and see— there is no one who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for me. 5) I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6) Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low. Save me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. 7) Bring me out of prison, so that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me. Psalm 142 Not included in the Revised Common L
Read more

Psalm 121 - From where will my help come?

Image
Jump to end of psalm A Song of Ascents. 1) I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? 2) My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3) He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4) He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5) The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6) The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7) The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8) The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. Psalm 121 2nd Sunday of Lent, Year A Proper 24, Sunday between October 16 and October 22, Year C This much beloved song is frequently turned to in time of crisis or trouble. I remember it as the first scripture read in James Chapel on September 11, 2001, shortly before I headed
Read more