Read Psalm 148
Questions from the Scripture text: What command bookends this Psalm (Psalm 148:1a, 14e)? How many times is this command repeated (verse 1b, verse 1c, Psalm 148:2a, verse 2b, Psalm 148:3a, verse 3b, Psalm 148:4a, Psalm 148:5a, Psalm 148:7a, Psalm 148:13a)? Who are to praise Him (Psalm 148:1b, verse 1c, Psalm 148:2a, verse 2b, Psalm 148:3a, verse 3c, Psalm 148:4a, verse 4b, Psalm 148:7b, Psalm 148:8a, verse 8b, Psalm 148:9a, verse 9b, Psalm 148:10a, verse 10b, Psalm 148:11a, verse 11b, Psalm 148:12a, verse 12b)? How do some of these creatures praise Him (Psalm 148:8b)? For what three things are His creatures to praise Him in Psalm 148:5b, Psalm 148:6a, and verse 6b? For what are they to praise Him in Psalm 148:13b, verse 13c? What is the greatest of all His works (Psalm 148:14a–c)? What has this done for them (verse 14d), uniquely situating them to praise Him?
Who is exalted, and why has He exalted us? Psalm 148 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that YHWH is infinitely exalted, but He has exalted His people and their praise so that they might praise Him.
From the highest heavens (Psalm 148:1) to the deepest depths (Psalm 148:7), from angels and heavenly bodies (Psalm 148:2-3) to all inanimate (Psalm 148:8-9) and animate (Psalm 148:10) creatures of the earth all of the Lord’s creatures are to praise Him.
Every station in life (Psalm 148:11) and stage of life (Psalm 148:12) is called to praise Him. How our lives and lips should be full of praise! Literally, every single thing that we see, every single thing that we remember, every occurrence in all of providence, summons us to praise Him. It is all the display of His works of creation (Psalm 148:5) and providence (Psalm 148:6).
But the chief praise-ers (Psalm 148:11-12) are the recipients of the greatest works of His providence: His exalting the horn of His people (Psalm 148:14a). Luke 1:69 explicitly identifies this horn (salvation, strength, dominion) as the Lord Jesus Himself. He has exalted the Lord Jesus, and in the Lord Jesus, He has exalted His saints and their praise.
We are saved and lifted up, in Jesus Christ, in order to praise the Lord. His glory is exalted above the heavens and the earth (Psalm 148:13c), but He has exalted His people so much that they are near, even to this Exalted One (Psalm 148:14d). In order for our praise to reach up to Him, the praise itself had to be exalted (verse 14b)! This is what the Lord has saved us for; this that for which He has lifted us up; this is that for which He has brought us near to Himself, Who is infinitely exalted: that we might behold and bless His exalted glory.
All creation does it, fulfilling His Word. But, dear saint, let you and I do it most of all, in and through and with our Lord Jesus Christ, our horn of salvation that the Lord has raised up for us in the house of His servant David. Let us praise YHWH!
To what creatures in God’s creation have you recently responded with praise for Him? How does your union with Christ inform your understanding of how exalted a thing it is to draw near to God? What place does the exaltedness of Christ have in your thoughts? What place does your own exaltedness in Him now, and with Him later, have in your hopes? In your praising?
Sample prayer: Lord, we praise you with the angels. We praise You with the sun, moon, and stars. We praise You with all the hosts of heaven. We praise You now, on the earth, and look forward to praising You more exaltedly when You have exalted us unto glory. For You commanded, and they were created. You have established Your creatures, and You have made a decree which shall not pass away. Your Name alone is exalted. Your glory is above the earth and heaven. You have raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of Your servant David. You have exalted the praise of all Your saints. For this reason, You have brought us near to Yourself, that we might praise You. And we praise You, by Your Spirit, in Your Son, in Whose Name we do so, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP148 “From Heav’n O Praise the Lord” or TPH148B “Hallelujah, Praise JeHoVaH”
No comments:
Post a Comment