Let everything praise the Lord
Psalm 148 calls on everything to praise the Lord. And it’s not just calling human beings to sing praise, but also angels, wild animals and cattle, birds and reptiles, sea monsters and trees. Even what people nowadays don’t consider alive—the psalmist calls them to sing hallelujah, too: sun, moon and stars; lighting, clouds, wind, and hail; mountains and hills. God created all of it, and it’s right that everything in heaven and earth praise him.
Of course, modern thinking explains why all these things aren’t really praising God: the psalmist was merely imitating songs of pagan nations; the hymn simply reminded ancient Israel to worship the creator rather than his creation; the psalm uses personification for poetic effect.
I’m not buying it. We may not understand the language of deer and hawk and carp, of dirt and wind and stars. But that doesn’t matter. When we lift up our voices to praise Jehovah, we’re never singing solo.
© Copyright 2007, A. Milton Stanley
Of course, modern thinking explains why all these things aren’t really praising God: the psalmist was merely imitating songs of pagan nations; the hymn simply reminded ancient Israel to worship the creator rather than his creation; the psalm uses personification for poetic effect.
I’m not buying it. We may not understand the language of deer and hawk and carp, of dirt and wind and stars. But that doesn’t matter. When we lift up our voices to praise Jehovah, we’re never singing solo.
© Copyright 2007, A. Milton Stanley
posted by Milton Stanley at 7:17 AM
3 Comments:
Nice point. Reminds me of how people even worship differently. If it doesn't look like us we assume we're the only ones truly worshipping. Since birds, dirt and trees don't talk we assume they don't worship. If people did not worship, even the stones would cry out.
Good points, Jeff. Thanks for furthering the conversation. Peace.
Have you seen Tree of Life? I obviously have my own opinions on the film (both good and bad)....but I would be curious to hear others interpretations.
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