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 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.” Psalm 148:1-4 (NKJV)

I cannot stress enough the importance of pausing whenever we hear an Old Testament account of God calling-forth creation and meditating on the fact that the Person of the Trinity known as “Messiah,” the “Word of God,” Jesus is the One responsible for creation.  (John 1:1-14)  This is not solely a New Testament idea, inserted into the Jewish narrative to lend credibility to Jesus.  The deity of Messiah is a JEWISH prophetic truth that is revealed solely in the Person of Jesus.

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2 (NKJV)  (see also: Isaiah 9:6)

In 1814, Mary Shelley wrote the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who created a monster he could not control.  The tale of Frankenstein’s monster is considered the first science fiction horror novel.  Some folks believe that Frankenstein is analogous to God, Who had the power to create the heavens and earth yet lacks the ability to control it.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  Long before Mary Shelley was born, the anonymous author of #148 made it clear that nothing is out of control or outside of the purview of God.  Alarms are not going off in heaven.  God is ever awake and on His throne.

“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.” Psalm 148:7-12 (NKJV)

Because God is all-powerful, any power that we have is from Him.  There is no room for human boasting.  (Ephesians 2:8-9) He alone graciously “exalts the horn” (power) of His people.  And for that, we praise Him, for He alone is worthy!

“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 148:13-14 (NKJV)