As we draw near to the conclusion of the Psalter, we have this wonderful Psalm summoning all creation to praise and worship “Yahweh’s majestic and incomparable power.” (# 2)
“Starting with the angelic host, and descending through the skies to the varied forms and creatures of earth, then summoning the family of man and finally the chosen people, the call to praise unites the whole creation. (# 29)
Firstly, the psalmist calls upon the heavens … the heights above to Praise the Lord. This includes all those in bold font below:
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
The comes the first mentioned reason for such praise – He is the all-powerful Creator (vv. 5-6):
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree that will never pass away.
The psalmist then moves on to, secondly, the earth. Again, including all the following in bold font:
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
Thirdly, it is the turn of the human creation to praise Yahweh:
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
old men and children.
“In these few lines there emerges, quite incidentally and with unforced simplicity, the only potential bond between the extremes of mankind: a joyful preoccupation with God.” (# 29)
And concludes with the second reason for praise – He is the awesome Redeemer (vv. 13-14):
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
The psalmist then makes it very personal as he concludes by bringing his people, Israel, into the picture:
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his faithful servants,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
And so, the Psalm’s “grandeur, its comprehensiveness, is highlighted by the repeated all – all angels, all stars, all depths, all hills, all cattle, all nations. Even all rulers… Everything and everyone, from the angels of God to the most powerful and godless of men, are to recognize the supremacy of Israel’s Lord – the one who has made himself well known to these alone, the people close to his heart.” (# 5)
Paul, concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, also says the same thing when he writes:
Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)
Praise the Lord.
Worship and Wisdom - Psalms and Proverbs 