“Well, that’s your truth, not my truth.” Have you ever heard anyone say that about the Christian faith? Underlying such a statement is a belief that all religious convictions are really nothing more than opinions. And if that were to be the case, then everyone would in fact be entitled to believe anything, or nothing at all, according to personal choice.
But the fact is that the Lord really did create the heavens and the earth, with only the Word of His power (verse 5, see Genesis 1). And so it only stands to reason that everything He made should worship Him and praise Him: from the sun and moon and stars (verse 3) to the forces of nature (verse 8), from the highest heavens (verse 4) to the mountains and hills on earth (verse 9). By their very existence, they demonstrate His might and majesty.
And of course all of God’s living creatures should join in the worship. As the fruit trees and cedars, the plants of all kinds grow in all their variety and complexity (verse 9), harnessing the still-mysterious power of chlorophyll to transform sunlight into the fuel that supports all life on earth, they are praising God for the miracle of life itself. As the sea monsters roam the deeps (verse 7), as the beasts and cattle wander over the land and the winged birds soar into the heavens (verse 10), in all their diversity they proclaim God’s infinite creativity and boundless energy.
So, how much more should the sentient angels (verse 2), as well as the kings and people of the earth join in the song (verse 11)? After all, we understand the identity of our Creator, and we are capable of giving Him conscious praise for His creative work. And how much more should God’s own people give Him praise, the ones He has made righteous (verse 14) by clothing them with the saving blood of His own Son?
So today, let all of us who trust in Christ join in the worship of all creation, falling down before the One Who has not only redeemed us and welcomed us into His presence, but adopted us into His own family, making us the sons and daughters of the King. Could there be anyone more worthy of our praise?
Psalm 148 (NASB)
Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights!
2 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!
3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light!
4 Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created.
6 He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth, Sea monsters and all deeps;
8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
9 Mountains and all hills; Fruit trees and all cedars;
10 Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and winged fowl;
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth;
12 Both young men and virgins; Old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above earth and heaven.
14 And He has lifted up a horn for His people, Praise for all His godly ones; Even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him. Praise the LORD!