[Biblemat] S>Series on the Psalms #148

[Jeff S. Smith]

Psalm 148: Praise Him

Introduction
i. If Psalm 147 was analyzed for containing two calls to praise, what  
must one think of Psalm 148 which is simply filled with such  
invitations? Praise is invited from the heavens in verses 1-6 and then  
from the earth in verses 7-14 in this “Hallelujah Psalm.”
ii. [Read Psalm 148:1-14].
iii. In Psalm 148, every created thing and being is summoned to give  
praise to God in a way that is far too uncommon today when so much  
skepticism, apathy and materialism abounds. Where are you when this  
call is issued?

Discussion
I. The Text
	A. From the Heavens (1-6)
		1. any good Hallelujah psalm must begin as this one does, but then  
it just keeps going, invoking the praise of God from every direction  
above the earth
		2. the hosts of heaven, both animate and inanimate, are called to  
praise God, but while it is easy to contemplate angelic worship, it  
takes a bit more concentration to comprehend the sun, moon and stars  
somehow praising God
			a. “an innumerable company of angels” (Hebrews 12:22) is often  
portrayed as approaching God and speaking to him in songs and petitions
			b. the constellations and other heavenly bodies, however, are not  
invested with that kind of consciousness, but as they shine reflect a  
semblance of God’s own glory on behalf of man who constantly needs to  
be reminded of something bigger than himself
			c. it is here in the heavens of heavens where thunder and lighting  
emanate as well
		3. they are all summoned to praise God because they are part of his  
creation, and a part that transcends the very limited life span of man
			a. we look upon the same sun as Moses, David, Jesus and George  
Washington; the same moon hangs over our heads that inhabited the  
dream of Joseph and the thoughts of Job
			b. if you cannot come to grips with how these heavenly bodies can  
praise God, then you need to spend an hour one evening staring at them  
until what the psalmist understood becomes clear to you

	B. From the Earth (7-14)
		1. the psalm shifts near the middle in order to solicit praise for  
God from the earth itself, that is, from everything that depends upon  
the Lord for providence in order to exist
		2. nature is included again, but the progression eventually finds  
its way to mankind so that all people regardless of their age or  
status might learn to worship the Lord
		3. the subhuman aspects of creation worship God in the same sense  
that the inanimate heavens do – by adding to the evidence of an  
intelligent designer and contributing to the beauty, thrill and wonder  
of the world around us and even beneath us
		4. again the section closes with an explanation of the  
reasonableness of all this attention heaped upon God – his name alone  
is exalted because he has exalted the strength or dominion of his  
people near to him; if there is anything the church should be able to  
grasp, it is that

II. Some Applications
	A. God Is Creator
		1. the theme of Psalm 148 is clearly God’s worthiness of praise on  
the basis of his role as Creator
			a. the universe displays unavoidable evidence of design and  
intelligence so that only a fool could suppose that there is no higher  
power behind it all and that nature, humanity and space exist only as  
unexplained accidents of evolution (Romans 1:20-23)
			b. idolatry was the alternative chosen by the ancients who replaced  
the God of heaven with images of their own carving and molding, but  
today intellectualism is the fashionable response
			c. God is rejected as Creator and the earth is attributed to a big  
bang of densely packed space matter hurtling through the heavens, the  
origin of which is utterly unknowable
		2. the Bible’s account of creation is recorded in the opening  
chapters of the book of Genesis and accounts for every aspect of the  
known universe and in a way that is completely plausible as long as a  
supernatural voice is allowed to speak (Colossians 1:13-18)
			a. creation in Genesis is attributed not just to God the Father,  
but to the Godhead, the divine “We” and here the Holy Spirit further  
connects creation to a pre-incarnate Jesus Christ
			b. it is not that Jesus is the first creature, but that he is  
superior to all creatures and the only member of the Godhood to assume  
“the likeness of sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3)
			c. God the son became acquainted with creation in a most intimate  
way by enclosing his eternal spirit in a tabernacle of flesh and  
“learning obedience by the things which he suffered” (Hebrews 10:5, 5:8)
		3. as much as anything the inanimate parts of the universe praise  
God by exercising their functions – illuminating the sky, beautifying  
the valley, electrifying the clouds, irrigating the village – and by  
defying the godless fantasy that all could have resulted by mere  
chance (1 Peter 4:17-19)

	B. The Fate of the Heavens and Earth
		1. the heavens and earth are on display throughout the Bible, but  
only rarely are they summoned to praise God in this manner
		2. in Psalm 148, they are shown in all their glory, and yet with the  
exception of the animate members, the heavens and earth are but  
temporary (Romans 8:18-23)
		3. the adoption and redemption of the disciples of Christ is a  
reference to the day of judgment, a day which in other passages  
coincides with the end of the earth (2 Peter 3:7-10)
			a. in the days of Noah, God promised a limited punishment upon an  
unbelieving world and the result was a vast flood that wiped out most  
of humanity and left behind traces of the destruction still visible  
today
			b. years later, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were treated to a  
fiery punishment that wiped out every resident save for the few that  
managed to escape by the hand of angels
		4. but the destruction that Peter foresaw goes beyond both of those,  
leaving no room for further evangelism or opportunities to repent  
(Revelation 21:1-8)
			a. just as in those earlier devastations, a minority will be  
preserved according to God’s grace upon the penitent and faithful,  
condemning all those who wallowed in iniquity
			b. the transitory nature of creation and, perhaps more immediately,  
our own lives, is intended to be a motivator toward better priorities  
and spiritual focus (2 Peter 3:11-13)

	C. Everyone Praise Him
		1. part of the human response has to be the kind of heartfelt praise  
this psalm describes – a confidence and affection toward God that  
hopes for new heavens and earth (Hebrews 2:10-13)
		2. when creation is again called to worship God, it is because of  
Jesus Christ and a better redemption of the people of God, among whom  
you should be one (Isaiah 43:18-21, 44:23, 49:13)
		3. a disinterest in “going to church” is indicative of a greater  
problem than oversleeping or social anxiety; it indicates ingratitude  
and unpreparedness when it comes to the purpose of the gospel
			a. the one who chooses not to worship with the saints, or even at  
home, is making a quiet choice to do less for his creator than what is  
reasonable (Isaiah 43:22-28)
			b. the Hebrew writer makes clear that we are not responsible for  
sacrificing bulls and goats or buying sweet cane or bringing grain  
offerings, but we are obliged to return to the Lord “the sacrifice of  
praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his  
name” (Hebrews 13:15)
		4. we ought to create within us hearts that crave worship  
(Philippians 1:9-11)

	D. His Name Alone is Exalted
		1. the end result is that God’s name is exalted; “He has sent  
redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy  
and awesome is His name” (Psalm 111:9).
		2. the 10 commandments have been nailed to the cross, but nothing in  
the New Testament liberates the people of God to take his name in vain  
by attaching it to false oaths, curses or carelessness
		3. even the word “Hallelujah” itself contains God’s name at the end  
and every instance of it should be treated with respect

Conclusion
Psalm 148 is a study in the praise of God that goes on around us all  
the time. Heaven and earth, inanimate and animate, comprise a chorus  
of thanksgiving and honor, and it is shameful if we will not join.

Jeff S. Smith
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