1. From the Heavens (verses 1-6)
2. From the Earth (verses 7-14)

This morning, I wand for you to think about things that we have made. By “we,” I’m talking about mankind. And when I talk about “things,” I’m talking about anything. From pencils to desks to roads to tractors to phones. When we make these things, they serve a purpose. We expect a pencil to write on a sheet of paper. We expect a desk to be stand up and not wobble. We expect a road to be smooth. We expect a tractor to be able to move through the field. We expect a phone to be able to communicate with other phones, so that we can talk with those who are in a different place.

Everything that we make has a purpose. A pillar in the wall has the purpose of holding up the wall. A billboard along the road has the purpose of advertising to those who drive by. Oil is put inside an engine to keep things running smoothly with little friction. A book is printed to communicate a message. A cup is created to hold a liquid for us to drink Even things that you don’t think have a purpose, they do. Say art, a painting that hangs on a wall, has a purpose to move us and stir us in some way. most often to wonder at its beauty.

In fact, I remember as a child having a toy called a “do nothing.”^[1] It was block of wood with two perpendicular channels in the wood. with a crank. As you turned this crank, the wood in the channels would go back and forth and back and forth and back and forth. The idea is that the toy did “nothing,” But it had its purpose. It sat on our kitchen counter. And those who happened to be in our home would often pick it up and look at it and ask about it. We would say, “It’s a do nothing.” Then, they would turn the handle, and experience a peculiar pleasure. of how everything moves together. back and forth, back and forth. It was “entertainment.” Today, it’s the fidget spinner. So, even things that don’t have an obvious “purpose,” actually do.

When the things we create fail to accomplish their purposes, or have fulfilled their purpose and can no longer be used, what do we do? we discard them. When a glass breaks, we throw the glass away. When the car breaks down, beyond repair, we send it to the junk yard. When we open a package, we throw away the cardboard, as it has fulfilled its purpose in delivering the goods. it is no longer needed. When we finish eating, we throw away the paper plate, it has fulfilled its purpose in holding our food for our meal. it is no longer needed.

This is how we deal with the things that we have created.

Now, this is not an accident. God is the same way. Everything that he has created has a purpose. That’s exactly what Proverbs 16:4 says, "The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble." That includes EVERYTHING! From the distant stars to the blade of grass, everything that God has made has its purpose. The stars are for the glory of God. The grass is horse to have its food. Some things have an express purpose. God created gravity to hold the universe together. God created carbon and oxygen and water to provide for life. Some things are beautiful, like the budding flower or geysers at Yosemite. Some things are ugly, like the smell of geyers, or like a rotting corpse. But everything God created has its purpose.

You have a purpose as well. The first question to the Westminster Catechism is this: "What is the chief and highest end of man?" The answer comes, "Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever." That is your purpose in this life. In fact, that is the purpose of everything that God has created. God has created everything for his own glory. Colossians 1:16 says, “All things were created through him and for him.” Isaiah 43:7 says, “everyone who is called by my name, I created for my glory.”

The title of my message this morning is this: “All Creation Called to Praise.” This is what we see in our text: Psalm 148.

So, if you haven’t done so already, I invite you to open in your Bibles to Psalm 148. We are continuing in our brief series on the Hallelujah Psalms, the last five Psalms in the Psaltar. They are called the “Hallelujah Psalms” because each one of them begin and end with the word, “Hallelujah.” which is translated, “Praise the LORD.”

Two weeks ago, we looked at Psalm 146, which called us to praise the LORD. We are to resolve in our being that we will praise the LORD. It begins with these words, "Praise the LORD, O my soul" (Psalm 146:1). It’s the inner conversation that the Psalmist has with his soul to praise the LORD, because this is the best thing for him to do. "Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD" (Psalm 146:5).

Last week, we looked at Psalm 147, which showed us how fitting it was to praise the LORD. that’s what it says in verse 1, "It is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting" (Psalm 147:1). It’s appropriate to praise the LORD. It is proper. Because, God is merciful and mighty, caring and compassionate, peaceful and powerful.

This week, we come to Psalm 148. This Psalm is calling all of creation to praise the LORD. In fact, the Psalm is 14 verses long. In those 14 verses, there are a dozen times when the Psalmist commands praise from God’s creation. And there are many other times in the Psalm where the command to praise is implied. This is a Psalm that calls all of creation to praise the LORD. As you read it, listen for all of the commands to praise the LORD.

Psalm 148
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the LORD!
For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the Lord!

This Psalm breaks nicely into two parts. The first part comes in verses 1-6. The second part comes in verse 7-14. Each of these parts is a call to praise. The first part calls for praise from the heavens. The second part calls for praise from the earth. Indeed, these are the two points of my message this morning. Praise the LORD (1) From the Heavens (verses 1-6). Praise the LORD (2) From the Earth (verses 7-14).

The title of my message is this: “All Creation Called to Praise," because, this is what we see in this Psalm. We see the heavenly beings called to praise the LORD (verse 2). We see the stars and planets called to praise the LORD (verses 3-4). We see the creatures in the sea called to praise the LORD (verse 7). We see the elements of the earth called to praise the LORD (verse 8). We see the ground and the plants called to praise the LORD (verse 9). We see the beasts of the field and the birds of the air all called to praise (verse 10). We see all of humanity called to praise the LORD (verse 11). Thus my title, “All Creation Called to Praise.”

So, let’s look at our first point this morning: Praise the LORD ...

1. From the Heavens (verses 1-6)

What is most interesting about this first section here is this: These words weren’t written to us. They were written to the angelic beings. Look again at the first two verses of the Psalm.

Psalm 148:1-2
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!

We are on the earth. We are not in the heavens. We are not in the heights. We aren’t angels. We aren’t the heavenly host! These words are calling those beings to praise the LORD! Not us. These words weren’t written to us.

Now, on the one hand, we are used to this. Because, really, all of the Bible was not written to us. It was written to the people of Israel. It was written to those in the ancient world. It was written to churches or people that lived long ago. Now, indeed, the Bible is written for us. It is written for us to learn. There is often application that comes to us as the people of God, what God commands to Israel, we can often apply to ourselves.

But here in Psalm 148, it’s a bit different. God is commanding angels to praise him. We aren’t angels. Angels aren’t fallen sinners. Angels are in a class of creation all by themselves. They live in a different realm that we do. Yet, they are still called to praise the LORD. And praise him they do.

Do you remember the scene in Isaiah, chapter 6, when Isaiah gets a peak into the throne room of God? He is surrounded by angelic beings giving glory to the Lord. "In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!'" (Isaiah 6:1-3). When John saw a similar vision, he said that these creatures say this day and night, never ceasing. “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8).

When you read the book of Revelation, you read of the angelic host praising God often. "And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen” (Revelation 7:11-12). This is the picture that the Bible gives of angelic beings. They often surround the throne of God and praise him!

Indeed, the angels obey their command to praise the LORD. Now, it must be said that there are some angelic beings who do not praise God. These are called demons. That is Angelic beings, who have rebelled against the LORD. They do not praise God, but seek to resist him in every way. But the angels who do praise God, do so very well. It’s as if they have read verse 2 and have complied, "Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!" (Psalm 148:2).

Hosts, by the way, is simply the angelic army all assembled together. Like at the birth of Jesus, like we read every Christmas: "The angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'” (Luke 2:10-14).

But the angels aren’t the only creation of God in the heavens. We also have the planets and stars.

Psalm 148:3
Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!

Now, again, I trust that this will strike you as odd. First of all, this wasn’t written to us. it was written to the sun and to the moon and to all the shining stars! If we are unlike the angels, we are even more unlike the sun, moon, and stars. We live on this planet, but they are spheres traveling through the universe, far away from us. Isn’t it odd, that God is calling inanimate objects, without a will, to praise the LORD?

Again, like I told you last week, not all praise is singing. Sun, moon, and stars don’t sing to God. Yet, they do praise the LORD. Psalm 19:1 says, "t/he heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." The mere size of these heavenly bodies and distance from our own earth, day and night are giving glory to God.

That’s why I’m so thrilled with the James Webb Telescope. it is reaching further that we (as mankind) have ever reached before. And I think of all of the astrophysicists who are beholding the glory of God in greater and greater ways every day. Yet, sadly, many of them fail to see the creating hand of God in it all. But God is there.

The sun, moon, and shining stars are obeying their command to praise the LORD. It’s as if they have read verse 3 and have complied, "Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!" But there is even more praise commanded from the heavens.

Psalm 148:4
Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!

Here, we are talking about the space itself, the highest heavens, the furthest reach of our empty space. Space is called to praise the LORD. We think of space as empty. Indeed it is. It’s almost a perfect vacuum, perfect nothingness. But even nothingness can give glory to God.

Indeed, there are ways that mere vastness and emptiness give glory to God. When you see the Grand Canyon, it’s the size of the canyon that draws us in praise and awe of God. it’s the space between the vast reach of the walls of the canyon that stir us to amazement. So likewise, the vastness of space gives glory to God. Isn’t it amazing. Even empty space is called to glorify God.

The “waters above the heavens” are referring to our clouds. The water in our atmosphere that gathers and comes down as rain upon the earth. Any child knows how glorious the clouds in the sky are. As they slowly change and morph into beautiful images. The first section of this Psalm closes with this nice summary:

Psalm 148:5-6
Let them praise the name of the LORD!
for he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

Verse 5 gives the reason why the creation is to glorify God: because he created! Created things are to give glory to their creator. The the created world is not going away, "he established them forever and ever." Oh, it will change, when Jesus returns and God brings in eternity. It will be refreshed with a new heavens and a new earth. But it will never go away. But in all, the heavens are called to praise the LORD.

So, let’s move now to our second point. Not only does the Psalmist call for the God’s praise, (1) from the Heavens (verses 1-6), but he also calls for God’s praise, ...

2. From the Earth (verses 7-14)

Psalm 148:7
Praise the LORD from the earth,

This is the rest of the Psalm. Just as we surveyed the heavens, with the angels, with the sun, moon, and stars, with the clouds, so also, will we survey the creation upon the earth. The Psalmist begins with the oceans:

Psalm 148:7
Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,

The oceans cover nearly ¾ of the surface of the earth. And much is contained in the ocean. Many sea creatures living in the ocean. large and small. You have the largest of the whales, the Blue Whale, reaching up to 90 feet in length. That’s twice the length of our auditorium! Then, you have the smallest of creatures. From the newborn fish and shrimp and crabs. I did a bit of research and discovered the Octopus Wolfi, found in the shallow waters of the Pacific Ocean. It's a whopping 1 inch in length, weighing less than a gram. It’s one of the smallest sea creatures.

All such animals are called to praise the LORD. I’m not exactly sure how they do. Nor do I understand how the sea creatures will ever hear and understand the words of Psalm 148. Yet it is addressed to them! They are called to praise the LORD. As his creatures, I am sure that they do. I’m not aware of any rebel fish who shake their fins at God.

Continuing on, In verse 8, we see the Psalmist calling the elements of the world to praise the LORD.

Psalm 148:8
fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!

Who doesn’t look at a campfire, without being mesmerized by its flickering light. Who doesn’t look at a forest fire, without being in awe of its power, that many men, fighting many days, with the most powerful of equipment, it not able to contain its rage! Who doesn’t see the snow fall, covering the earth as all white, without admiring the beauty. Who doesn’t see the fog roll in, and feel the calm of the day. Who doesn’t feel the wind, without acknowledging forces that are beyond our sight. These things praise the LORD. as does the rain upon the earth that we are receiving this morning. It all reflects back upon the creator.

Then, in verse 9, we see the land and the vegetation called to praise the LORD.

Psalm 148:9
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!

We look at the mountains in awe of God. Hills can be beautiful as well. I know in California, where Yvonne is from, there are the rolling, golden hills of California that are especially beautiful. The fruit trees bear fruit for us to enjoy. And the cedars give lumber from which we can build our homes. But verse 9 isn’t so much saying that their beauty and use is what gives praise to God. The mountains and hills and trees, themselves are being called upon to praise the LORD. I believe that just as the heavens tell of the glory of God day after day without speech, so also do the hills and the trees glorify the LORD in much the same way.

Psalm 96 speaks of the joy that the creation will have when the LORD returns to judge the world and set it straight.

Psalm 96:11-13
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.

When the groaning of creation, that longs for the created order to be restored, will ultimately be satisfied, the trees and the hills and the mountains will rejoice at the coming of the LORD. We even see that they will "sing for joy." This gives insight into Psalm 148 and what is taking place in this Psalm.

In verse 10, we see the beasts of the earth and the birds of the sky being called to praise the LORD.

Psalm 148:10
Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!

The beasts include all of the wild animals: the lions and tigers and bears. The livestock include the domesticated animals: the horses and cows and goats and sheep. The creeping things include the snakes and lizards and spiders. The flying birds include the eagles and hawks and robins and hummingbirds. God has created them all to praise the LORD. Again, I’m not sure how they will every hear the exhortation of Psalm 148, but somehow, God has made it known to his creatures, to praise the LORD.

And finally, in verse 11, we come to people. Human beings are those who can actually praise God with their minds and mouths, who can actually articulate God’s command. and give their obedience to it.

Psalm 148:11-12
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!

That is, EVERYBODY! Whether you are young or old; whether male or female; whether weak or powerless; we are all called to praise the LORD. This is where the Hallelujah Psalms will end: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" (Psalm 150:6).
 
The Psalm has called all of creation to praise the LORD. And now it comes to us. It comes to people, the crown of creation! Those in the image of God are to praise the LORD. God’s call for us to praise the LORD knows no bounds. There is nobody here exempt from the call to praise.

The obvious question at this point is this: Are you praising the LORD?

Picture with me a choir, not a choir of people, but a choir of creation. Where in the choir loft are some angels (front left). And in the choir (back left) are a few planets and stars. And in the back right are some mountains and hills. And in the front right are all sorts of animals, dolphins and sea turtles and elk and rabbits and owls, And right in the middle front, with a microphone close by are you standing. The music begins, the choir begins making its melody. each in its own way. The cows are saying, “Moooooo.” The wind is saying, “Whooooosh.” The angelic beings are speaking some unknown tongue (1 Cor. 13:1). And what are you doing? Are you praising the LORD, or, are you the toddler performing at the Christmas concert with stage fright, not knowing the words?

Charles Spurgeon said it well, “True devotion not only hears the praises of God in the sweet song of feathered minstrels, but even discovers it in the croaking from the marsh, or in the buzz of 'the blue fly which sings in the window pane.' More base than reptiles, more insignificant than insects, are songless men!” Such is the reality of those who don't praise the LORD. Do you? The call is for all of creation to praise the LORD. Are you joining in ths creation chorus?

Psalm 148:13
Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.

God is worthy of our praise. He stands above all of his creation, as the only one who is exalted. Verse 14 then comes for a reason for all of us to praise the LORD.

Psalm 148:14
He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the LORD!

It’s difficult to know here what the “horn” means. In the Bible, a horn is simply an emblem of strength and power, like the beasts of the field whose horns become weapons against other beasts. I can’t help but to think that this has a reference to the Messiah, the one whom God raised up to be our strength, ... the one coming to deliver. He is the object of our praise! “Praise for all his saints” He is the object of our praise for those who are near him!

And when one understands the gospel, that we who were far off have been brought near to God through faith, praise comes naturally. Of all creation, we have the most reason to praise the LORD. We have been redeemed and brought near to God.
_____

I want to close by directing our attention to a hymn that we sung earlier in our service: All Creatures of our God and King (TSH #63). I encourage you to read these words slowly. They echos some of the same themes of Psalm 148.

1. All creatures of our God and king
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise him, O praise him Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

2. Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in heaven along
O praise him, Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice
Ye light of evening, find a voice
O praise him, O praise him Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

3. Thou flowing water, pure and clear
Make music for thy lord to hear
Alleluia, Allelua!
Thou fire so masterful and bright
That givest man both warmth and light
O praise him, O praise him Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

4. And all ye men of tender heart
Forgiving others take your part
O sing ye, Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear
Praise God and on him cast your care
O praise him, O praise him Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

5. Let all things their creator bless
And worship him in humbleness
O praise him, Alleluia! Praise,
Praise the father, praise the son
And praise the spirit, three in one
O praise him, O praise him Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

These words were originally written by St. Francis of Assisi (though translated into English) in the 1200's. Assisi is known as a lover of nature. It is only right that he would have written a hymn so focused upon the creation of God.

In Francis’ last days, he became virtually blind and unable to endure daylight. One of the sisters at his home built him a hut in the garden of her convent where he could live out the rest of his days. It is said that Francis could be heard preaching to the birds, urging them to praise God in accordance with the message of Psalm 148.

Are you giving praise to God along with the rest of the creation?

This sermon was delivered to Rock Valley Bible Church on August 7, 2022 by Steve Brandon.
For more information see www.rockvalleybiblechurch.org.

[1] Here's a picture of what it was like: https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Machine-accessory-assorted-hardwoods/dp/B07XPMLZQ8.

[2] See https://oceanscubadive.com/10-smallest-animals-found-in-the-ocean/.
 
[3] See https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Angelic-Beings-Praising-God.