Psalm 148: A Symphony of Praise
THIS CALL TO praise, if heeded by all of creation, would make for quite a symphony of praise. Perhaps it would sound more like a cacophony than a symphony. Judging from the noises that all of God's creatures make individually, it boggles the mind (never mind the eardrums!) to imagine such as the concert called for in Psalm 148. Its location at the end of the book suggests that Psalm 148 is meant to wrap everything up on a high praise note.
Warming Up to God
Think about an exciting time of corporate praise that you have been a part of. How does seeing others engaged in worship inspire your worship?
Read Psalm 148. »
Discovering the Word
- This psalm divides into two six-verse stanzas (vv. 1-6 and 7-12), with a recap that underscores the motivation to praise (vv. 13-14). What two major chorus groups are appealed to here?
- Within those two major choral divisions, who joins in praising God?
- Do you see this as mere figurative (symbolic or exaggerated) language used by the psalmist to call all things in heaven and on earth, or is there some way that all the various elements actually praise God?
- Why praise God at all (vv. 5-6, 13-14)?
Applying the Word
- What is the closest you have come, this side of heaven, to experiencing a worldwide worship service such as this psalm announces?
- Do you look forward to heaven when this psalm finds its fulfillment, or does praising God all day long sound boring to you?
- How does this psalm provide a new or fresh picture of praise for you?
Responding in Prayer
Imagine what it would be like to have every man, woman and child—young and old alike—participating in your church's choir. Pray (and practice) toward that end.
For Further Study
Hymns II by Paul Beckwith, Hughes M. Huffman and Mark Hunt