Cosmic Praise
Psalm 148
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!
Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded and they were created.
He established them forever and ever;
he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and women alike,
old and young together!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted
his glory is above earth and heaven.
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!
Psalm 148 is often referred to as the “Cosmic Praise” psalm. I love it because it paints a picture of creation in which everything and everyone is engaged in communal worship. It conveys to us that the idea from the very beginning was to reconcile all of creation to God. Notice that everything and everyone is engaged in worship! From the kings to the beggars, from the massive “sea monsters” all the way down to the “creeping things,” no one gets left out.
It makes me wonder why we are so quick to erect boundaries for God’s love. Why would we ever feel like we’re the arbiters of who is worthy of receiving God’s grace and love? If the psalm is correct and God’s vision extends to all of creation, why do we spend so much time and energy arguing over who deserves it?
Author of The Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning, wrote: “The outstretched arms of Jesus exclude no one, not the drunk in the doorway, the panhandler on the street, gays and lesbians in their isolation, the most selfish and ungrateful in their cocoons, the most unjust of employers and the most overweening of snobs. The love of Christ embraces all without exception.”
May our love be as reckless.
Rev. Ryan Young
