GETTING THE MESSAGE/Psalm 148
This psalm answers the question of "Why am I here?" What is the point of life? The reason for our existence and all creation is to glorify God. The words of the psalm reflect a sanctified heart longing for the creation and the redeemed of God to praise the Lord.
Verses 1-6 look heavenward, calling for angels and the universe to praise the Lord: "Praise him, all his angels; praise him all his hosts! Praise him sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars." The angels are mighty creatures. The sun, moon, and stars are not able to respond, but reflect the praise of God by their very existence. Their voice is loud and constant.
The tragedy is that the non-personal entities in creation such as the sun and moon are given to us that we may praise the Lord, but they, though having no audible voice, praise the Lord while men who have been given a rational soul by the Lord. Only when men come to know God through Christ, do they join creation in praising the Lord.
In verses 5 and 6 we are given reasons for the heavenly realm to praise the Lord: "For he commanded, and they were created. And he established them forever and ever." The Lord spoke all into creation, and he holds it all together minute by minute.
The universe has a massive nature, and with its seemingly unlimited number of stars as well as microscopic complexity, doesn't signal randomness, but rather design, a Creator. Our culture has lost the sense that we are created, and that God created all. It is becoming more counter cultural to say "I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth."
It is a sad commentary on our hearts when mighty angels are not ashamed to bow and praise the Lord of all, and we are prone to suppress the truth and refuse to taste of the goodness and glory of God. This is the way this world is. The Lord Jesus warned us that if we were ashamed of him in this wicked world, he would be ashamed of us when he comes in the glory of his Father and with the holy angels. When you look up to the heavens, commit yourself to the praise of the Lord.
In verses 11 and 12 he exhorts the redeemed of the Lord to praise the Lord, from the greatest to the least, the oldest to the youngest. It is good to pause here and ask yourself if you are one of the redeemed of the Lord. If so, then you are obligated (and privileged) to be among those who offer up praise to the Lord.
The psalmist says, "Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted." The Lord Jesus taught us to hallow the name of God. This means to set God's name above all names, not only to admire, but also to adore the name of the Lord. To hallow his name is to set it apart from common use.
Verse 14 gives the redeemed great reason to praise the name of the Lord: "He has raised up a horn for his people." A horn is a symbol of strength or of a conqueror. This directs us to think of Christ. He came to destroy the works of the devil. The result of his work is that his people will praise the name of the Lord. We are redeemed that we may glorify and enjoy the perfections of God.
Christ Jesus is a great Savior. If we have him we can praise God in plenty or want. Many bless God when he gives, but to bless God when he takes away is a way to honor his name in a high degree. It is to set value on the redemption of Christ above anything else.
The climax of the psalm, indeed the whole Bible and the existence of this world is that his people may be "near to him (verse 14)." The dwelling place of God will be with men, and they shall be his people forever (Revelation 21). We should become trumpets for his praise.