For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psa 148

1 Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
    and you waters above the skies.

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever –
    he issued a decree that will never pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
    old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendour is above the earth and the heavens.
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,
    the praise of all his faithful servants,
    of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise the Lord.

A. Find Out

1. Who are called to praise the Lord? v.1-4
2. Why? v.5,6
3. Who and what else are called to praise the Lord? v.7-12
4. Why? v.13
5. What further has he done? v.14

B. Think:

1. Why were the first group called to praise the Lord?
2. Why are the second group called to praise Him?
3. What further specifically has He done warranting praise?

C. Comment:

                Each of these final psalms is a call to praise God and each one gives reasons why He is worthy of our praise. We need to heed these calls again and again, as we hold to the truth that is the Lord.

                The first call is for the heavens (v.1) and the heavenly hosts to praise the Lord (v.2). That suggests the spiritual world. But then the call includes the sun, moon and stars, everything in the skies (v.3,4).

                Then comes the reason for this call: the Lord has created them all! (v.5) Moreover He has determined that they will stay in place for ever and so have the assurance of never passing away (v.6).

                Moving from the ‘heavens’ and the skies, the call to praise moves to all the creatures on the earth in the seas (v.7), the weather (v.8), for formations of the earth and plant life (v.9), living creatures on the earth (v.10), rulers of humanity (v.11) and humanity itself (v.12).

                Why should all these praise Him? They should praise Him because of who He is, the eternal one, the one who is higher than any others, and the one who fills the earth with His glorious presence (v.13).

                Finally, there is yet a further specific reason for praise: He has established a strong ruler who will be the cause of even more praise from all His people (v.14). Whether this is a reference to David, Solomon or some other king is not stated, but it must surely be true of His Son, Jesus Christ.

D. Application:

1. The Lord is Creator of all things, so praise Him.
2. The Lord is greater than any other, so praise Him.