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 stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created. He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all the depths; fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling His word; mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars; beasts and all cattle; creeping things and flying fowl; kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth; both young men and maidens; old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. And He has exalted the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints—of the children of Israel, a people near to Him. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 148)

Praising The Lord

God’s glory is worthy of praise, whether you are created in His image like Adam and Eve, a creature inhabiting the world, or the inanimate objects that make up the earth. From the heavenly beings to the universe filled with the sun, moon, and stars, praise is given to the magnificent glory of the Lord. In the darkness of space, the stars are uncountable, and each one praises God. Every morning, the sun rises, and God is glorified. In the tranquil darkness of the night, the moon shines the glory of its Maker. The oceans of the earth are filled with creatures of all sizes. From the tiny plankton to the massive blue whale, God is praised.

When the earth reacts in seismic rhythms of weather patterns, the majesty of the Lord is seen in its power and form. Fire, hail, snow, and clouds all declare the handiwork of an amazing God. Even the trees of creation declare the wonder of their Maker. The animals of the earth all know who formed them and cares for them. From the smallest swallow to the largest beast, all of God’s creation bears the mark of their Creator. The creeping animals and flying fowl testify that God created and placed His glory upon them. All of creation resounds with the symphony of divine creation with marvelous detail that could only be found from the hand of a mighty Creator.

There is a reason to give praise to God. The psalmist issues the proclamation of praise thirteen times in his psalm of less than two hundred words. He emphasizes how all of creation lift their voices to the eternal throne of God to honor and praise Him. Animals praise God. The universe is a canvas of praise to the Lord. From the mountains, valleys, rivers, and oceans, all of creation shouts how much the Lord receives glory. The trees speak to the splendor of a divine hand that formed them. Nothing in the world and bound in the blanket of the universe denies the glory of God. The only creature that struggles with praising its Creator is the highest of all creation: man.

There is an irony that God placed within man the divine nature so that all men would glorify Him, and yet, man seldom gives praise to his Creator. God demands that kings and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, both young men and maidens, old men and children, praise Him. Man is the highest of creation because he is eternal. The animals have no eternal nature. Trees, rivers, oceans, mountains, and the universe filled with the sun, moon, and stars have no eternal nature about them, and yet they praise God every day. Man struggles with praise to God because man finds pride in praising himself. The Lord must be praised because His name alone is exalted, and His glory is above the earth and heaven.

God wants His creation to praise Him so that He can have a people near Him. When a man praises God, he draws near to God. The closer a man draws to the Lord, the greater God becomes and the smaller man becomes. Yet, in the insignificance of man’s presence before his Creator, God lifts him up to show His love by giving His only begotten Son to die for men. And that is why the Lord must be praised. Praise God. Let the voices of praise be heard for what God has done for the world.