Psalm 148
Praise for God’s Universal Glory
1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! 2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!
3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! 4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. 6 He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.[a]
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, 8 fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! 10 Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! 12 Young men and women alike, old and young together!
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. 14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord!
If this psalm sounds familiar, it is because we have read it earlier this week in the devotions. It is a psalm of praise.
What is your favorite praise song? What song comes to mind that lifts you up, and raises your heart and voice in praise to God? It might be an old classic, like “Holy, Holy, Holy” or “Beautiful Savior” or a hymn of praise from the liturgy. Maybe it is the “Hallelujah Chorus” from the Messiah. Maybe it is a song that you have recently heard that has caught your attention.
Here is a recording of the Hallelujah Chorus by Handel performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
One of the songs that comes to mind for me I first heard when my daughter was in a combined choir with kids from many high schools in central Ohio. It is a jazzed-up version of the Hallelujah Chorus. While some might consider this “not their cup of tea” so to speak, the message still comes through. Here is a recording I found of another choir of youngsters singing this arrangement.
What I love about a variety of music genres is that praises to God can be sung in different ways that represent the person who is offering the song in ways that they know best. For some of us, our songs are loud and demonstrative. For others, our songs are quiet and introspective. For some it may be a poem or reading. For others it might even be silent meditation.
Where do you find your voice in offering praise to God?
I believe the best way to praise God is to take what God has given you and however God has “wired you” and use it in giving glory to God. For God deserves our very best.
Lift every voice and sing.
Let us pray: Almighty God, we bless you and praise your holy name. May we give voice to lift this praise as you have given us the gifts to do so. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.