PSALMS LESSON 148
We will begin this lesson by giving the 148th Psalm in metre.
THE PSALMS OF DAVID IN METRE
Chapter 148
Verse 1. "The Lord of heav'n confess, On high his glory raise. Him
all ye angels bless, Him all his armies praise. Him glorify,
Sun, moon, and stars; Ye higher spheres, And cloudy sky."
Verse 2. "From God your beings are, Him therefore famous make; You
all created were, When he the word but spake. And from that
place, Where fixed you be By his decree, You cannot pass."
Verse 3. "Praise God from earth below, Ye dragons, and ye deeps:
Fire, hail, clouds, wind, and snow, Which in command he
keeps. Praise ye his name, Hills great and small, Trees low
and tall; Beats wild and tame;"
Verse 4. "All things that creep or fly. Yo kings, yo humble throng,
All princes, mean or high; Both men and virgins young, Ev'n
young and old, Exalt his name; For much his fame Should be
extolled."
Verse 5. "O let God's name be praised Above both earth and sky; For
he his saints hath raised, And set their horn on high: Even
those that be Of Isr'el's race, Near to his grace. The Lord
praise ye."
We will now begin the verse by verse study of the 148th Psalm.
Psalms 148:1 "Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens:
praise him in the heights."
There is nothing so high above that it should not praise the
Lord. He is the Creator of even the heavens and all they contain, as
well as the earth and all it contains. This praise is not just to be
limited to the heavens but, also, should extend to the angels, and the
cherubim, and seraphim. The archangels, as well, should praise. We
know that one of the things that the angels do always in heaven, is
cry Holy, Holy, Holy.
Psalms 148:2 "Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all
his hosts."
The few glimpses that we have had into heaven has, also, told of
the praise and worship that goes on continually. Even the 24 elders
bow down before Him and cry out in praise. Revelation 19:4 "And the
four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped
God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia."
Psalms 148:3 "Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye
stars of light."
The sun and moon have been the object of pagan worship. They
should not be worshipped, because they are God's creation. We spoke of
the fact that they are fixtures that we see the Light in. They are not
the source of Light. Jesus is the source of Light. He is the Light.
Psalms 148:4 "Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters
that [be] above the heavens."
This is speaking of the vastness above the heavens. Even this
vastness is in God's control. We know that there are at least three
heavens, because Paul was carried to the third heaven.
Psalms 148:5 "Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he
commanded, and they were created."
This is reason enough for all of these things to praise God. He
is Creator. They owe their existence to their Creator.
Psalms 148:6 "He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he
hath made a decree which shall not pass."
Not only did God create all of the heavenly things, but he
established an order where they would stay in orbit and not fly off
into space and burn up. They are like people here on the earth in that
the life of the sun, moon, or stars is determined by the usefulness it
has to God. When He tells the sun to stop shining, it will.
Psalms 148:7 "Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all
deeps:"
Even the devil, himself, is a creation of God. When the praise is
commanded to go forth, it does not even exclude the evil things of the
earth. The devil will operate his little lying, cheating, deceiving
ministry here on the earth, until the Lord says it is enough. We read
that Satan will be locked up in chains for one thousand years and will
not be able to deceive during that time. The praises from up in the
heaven can join with the praises floating up from the earth. This just
means that all of God's creation will praise Him.
Psalms 148:8 "Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind
fulfilling his word:"
A strange phenomenon happened in the days of Pharaoh, because God
commanded it to. Fire mixed with hail fell on the Egyptians. These two
elements generally are not together. This just shows more clearly that
all elements must obey God. In the snow and vapours, we see opposite
elements cooperating again. Vapor comes from heat and snow from cold.
The winds must obey His voice, as well. They blow, when He gives them
permission to blow.
Psalms 148:9 "Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all
cedars:"
We seldom think of something as big as a mountain stopping to
praise God. We do know, that when the presence of God was on the
mountain the mountain quaked. Fruit trees bear fruit, because they are
commanded of God to do so. Even the cedar, which is thought to be the
strongest tree in the forest, must praise its Creator.
Psalms 148:10 "Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and
flying fowl:"
This is just saying that even the animals that were thought to be
ferocious on the earth, are part of God's creation and must praise
Him, as well. It may soar above the earth like a bird, but it cannot
soar above God.
Psalms 148:11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and
all judges of the earth:"
The kings and judges of this earth, who have much authority, will
someday stand before the Judge of all the earth and be judged
themselves. They, too, are part of God's creation and must praise Him.
They have been placed in a place of authority on the earth, because
God ordained it. They will be dealt with the same as the rest of God's
creation.
Psalms 148:12 "Both young men, and maidens; old men, and
children:"
There is no male or female with God, because He deals in the
spirit and not in the flesh. It is only in the flesh that we are male
and female. There is neither young or old with God either. The time
element in heaven is just one eternal day. All of God's creation must
praise Him. Mankind, who is made in God's image, should be even more
apt to praise Him. Christians, even more than sons of men, should
praise Him. He is our Father, and we have been adopted into His
family.
Psalms 148:13 "Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name
alone is excellent; his glory [is] above the earth and heaven."
Now, we see another very good reason to praise Him. LORD, in
this, is Jehovah. There is none greater. There is none even close to
as good. His glory exceeds all others in heaven, in earth, and under
the earth. If there is any other place that exists, He is above that,
too. He is God. He is Highest Supreme God.
Psalms 148:14 "He also exalteth the horn of his people, the
praise of all his saints; [even] of the children of Israel, a people
near unto him. Praise ye the LORD."
Notice, that we should not lift ourself up. He lifts us up. He
lifted us up so high that we are His family. The horn symbolizes
strength. He is our strength. The praise that we lift to Him should be
continuous. It should never end. We, of all of God's creation, are the
most blessed. He sent us a Deliverer, our Saviour and Lord Jesus
Christ. Praise Ye the Lord. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Spiritual Israel and Physical Israel Praise with all that is within
you.
Questions 148
1. Quote verse 1 of Psalms 149.
2. Name some of the heavenly beings that should praise, as well.
3. What is one of the things the angels do in heaven?
4. Quote Revelation chapter 19 verse 4.
5. In verse 3, what are to praise Him?
6. What are the sun and moon?
7. Who is the Light?
8. What is verse 4 speaking of?
9. Why should they praise Him?
10. Why do they stay in orbit?
11. When will the sun stop shining?
12. What kind of ministry does the devil have?
13. When did fire and hail fall to the earth together?
14. Vapour comes from ______, and snow comes from _____.
15. When did the mountain quake?
16. What causes a fruit tree to bear fruit?
17. What is thought to be the strongest tree in the forest?
18. Who will judge the kings and judges?
19. Why were they placed in high authority on earth?
20. There is no ______ or _______ with God.
21. Why is this so?
22. Why should mankind be more eager to praise Him?
23. Quote Psalms chapter 148 verse 13.
24. He exalteth the ______ of His people.
25. How high has God lifted up the Christians?
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