INTRODUCTION
OPENING SLIDE
• Have you ever had one of those days where life just feels overwhelming?
• Life gets loud, doesn’t it?
• Bills pile up.
• Phones buzz.
• Health starts to deteriorate.
• The news wears us down.
• We become tired, stressed, and worn down.
• We go from one thing to the next, just trying to keep up.
• In the middle of all that, it can be difficult to lift your head, let alone lift your heart in praise.
• Psalm 148 takes these everyday moments and lifts them up as part of something much bigger, a chorus of praise that includes all of creation.
• Psalm 148 is not just about pretty scenes.
• It’s about reality: the chaos we face, daily struggles, and the brokenness we see around us.
• Yet even in all this, God calls us to join with everything around us to praise Him who holds the entire universe together.
• When life feels overwhelming, when hope seems distant, remembering that the whole world is praising the same God can bring comfort and strength.
• Praise isn’t just about singing; it’s about joining in God’s work of bringing healing, hope, and renewal to our lives and the world around us.
• This psalm encourages us to do just that—not by ignoring our struggles, but by reminding us that we are part of something much bigger.
• Psalm 148 shows us that all of creation, from the stars in the sky to the waves in the sea, is praising God.
• And if creation can praise Him in the middle of storms, so can we.
• When life becomes heavy, our hearts can forget how to praise.
• But this psalm reminds us God built praise into the fabric of everything He made.
• The stars shine because He told them to.
• The waves crash because He set their boundaries.
• And you breathe because He still has a purpose for you.
• Maybe lately you’ve felt out of tune, tired, stretched thin, and disconnected from God.
• Psalm 148 calls you back into harmony. It says, “You still have a part in this song.”
• Let’s begin with verses 1-6.
Psalm 148:1–6 NET 2nd ed.
1 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the sky. Praise him in the heavens.
2 Praise him, all his angels. Praise him, all his heavenly assembly.
3 Praise him, O sun and moon. Praise him, all you shiny stars.
4 Praise him, O highest heaven, and you waters above the sky.
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he gave the command and they came into existence.
6 He established them so they would endure; he issued a decree that will not be revoked.
MAIN POINT 1 SLIDE
SERMON
I. Heavenly Praise
• The psalm begins where praise has always been, in the heavens.
• Before you and I ever took a breath, before there was a sunrise over the Huachuca Mountains or a song sung here at First Christian Church, praise was already happening in heaven.
• Psalm 148 opens with, “Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the sky. Praise him in the heavens. ”
• It’s like the psalmist is saying, “Look up!”
• Remember that above all the noise and the stress of this life, there is a God being worshiped by angels, by the stars, and by the very universe He created.
• Heaven’s praise reminds us that worship doesn’t start with us; it starts with God.
• He deserves praise not because of how we feel today, but because of who He is: unchanging, faithful, holy, and reigning forever.
• Verse 1 sets the tone, reminding us that praise originates in the heavenly places.
• Before we ever lift our voices in worship, the heavens are already singing.
• All celestial beings, including the angels and heavenly hosts, engage in continuous praise.
• Our worship is an echo of what is already happening in the presence of God.
• Verse 2 moves to the celestial beings, the angels and the heavenly assembly.
• The psalmist includes angels and heavenly armies, emphasizing that every created being in the spiritual realm is summoned to glorify God.
• “Angel” signifies messenger or servant, while “heavenly assembly” would indicate the totality of servants, with a concept of being innumerable.
• These beings, who dwell in the immediate presence of God, are not silent; they are active participants in worship.
• Their example reminds us that worship is our highest calling and eternal occupation.
• Verses 3-4 shift over to the praise of the universe!
• Even the inanimate parts of creation are called to praise.
• The sun, moon, and stars—symbols of power, light, and order—are summoned to glorify their Creator.
• This poetic language teaches us that all of creation reflects the majesty of God.
• The beauty and order of the cosmos are acts of praise in themselves.
• Why are the heavens and the universe called to praise the Lord?
• Look at verses 5-6 again with me.
Psalm 148:5–6 NET 2nd ed.
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he gave the command and they came into existence.
6 He established them so they would endure; he issued a decree that will not be revoked.
• Why should the heavens praise the Lord?
• They should praise the Lord because He is their Creator.
• He spoke, and they came into being.
• He established them with purpose and permanence.
• This is a reminder that praise is rooted in the recognition of who God is and what He has done.
• The heavens praise Him because they owe their existence to His word and His will.
• By virtue of their existence, creation praises God!
Romans 1:20 NET 2nd ed.
20 For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.
• We see in verses 1-6 that the heavenly creation praises God by fulfilling the purpose for which it was created.
• The psalm calls upon the heavens, the angels, the sun, the moon, the stars, and the highest heavens to praise the name of the Lord. These celestial beings and bodies praise God through their existence, order, and obedience to His command.
• God created them, established them forever, and gave them a decree that will never pass away.
• Their continued presence and function in the universe reflect God's glory and power, serving as a form of praise to Him.
• Let’s move to verses 7 through 10.
Psalm 148:7–10 NET 2nd ed.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea creatures and all you ocean depths,
8 O fire and hail, snow and clouds, O stormy wind that carries out his orders,
9 you mountains and all you hills, you fruit trees and all you cedars,
10 you animals and all you cattle, you creeping things and birds,
MAIN POINT 2 SLIDE
II. Earthly Praise
• After calling on the heavens and the universe to praise God, the psalmist shifts his focus to a more specific call for earthly praise.
• The psalmist turns his attention downward. The praise that begins in the heights must also be echoed here on earth.
• Heaven and earth are united in worship, and all of creation is summoned to lift its voice in adoration.
• Verse 7 begins with a call to praise the Lord from the depths of the sea.
• The call to praise now comes from the sea, a place often seen in Scripture as mysterious and powerful.
• God calls even the vast, untamed oceans and the creatures that dwell in the deep to give glory to Him.
• This serves as a reminder that no location, no matter how remote or wild, can escape the Creator's praise.
• There is a call to praise the Lord to the elements in verse 8.
• The psalm includes the weather and natural forces as instruments of God’s praise.
• Though these elements may seem chaotic or destructive to us, they are under God’s control and serve His purposes.
• Their obedience to His command is itself an act of worship.
• This demonstrates that despite the challenges of life, God remains sovereign and deserving of praise.
• Praise is not limited to humans but flows through the entire natural world.
• Verse 9 is the call to the land to praise God!
• The solid ground beneath our feet, the towering mountains, the rolling hills, and the fruitful trees all declare the glory of God.
• The beauty and productivity of the land are testimonies to the wisdom and generosity of the Creator.
• Every blossom, every harvest, is a reason to praise.
• One thing I love about living in Sierra Vista is the view of the mountains.
• It is a sight to behold.
• I love that we can see the beauty of the mountains from our backyard.
• Verse 10 calls for all the creatures on earth to praise the Lord!
• From the wild beasts of the forest to the domesticated animals in the fields, from the tiniest insect to the soaring bird, all living things are called to praise.
• Each creature, in its own way, fulfills the purpose for which it was made.
• Their existence and activity bring honor to the One who formed them.
• In verses 7-10, the earthly creation praises God through its existence and by fulfilling its natural roles as designed by the Creator.
• This portion of the psalm reminds us that the earth is not silent.
• All around us, creation is praising God.
• The waves crash in rhythm with His majesty.
• The trees sway in reverence.
• The birds sing melodies of worship.
• If the earth is already praising God, how can we remain silent?
• We are stewards of this world, and we are invited to join in its song.
• Let us not allow the mountains or the birds to overshadow us.
• Let our lives be a daily offering of praise to the One who made heaven and earth.
• Let’s move to verses 11-14
Psalm 148:11–14 NET 2nd ed.
11 you kings of the earth and all you nations, you princes and all you leaders on the earth,
12 you young men and young women, you elderly, along with you children.
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty extends over the earth and sky.
14 He has made his people victorious, and given all his loyal followers reason to praise— the Israelites, the people who are close to him. Praise the LORD!
MAIN POINT 3 SLIDE
III. Human Praise
• Human praise is presented as the climax of creation’s worship.
• This uniqueness stems from the fact that we are created in God’s image.
• All of creation has been summoned, and now the crown of God's creation, human beings, are called to lift their voices in praise.
• This is not just a general invitation; it is a specific and inclusive call to every person, regardless of status, age, or position.
• Verse 11 calls for rulers and leaders to praise God!
• Everyone, from the highest leaders to the lowest, is called to worship.
• Political authority and national prominence do not excuse anyone from giving glory to God.
• In fact, those in leadership are especially called to recognize that their authority is given by God and should be exercised in reverence to Him.
• Imagine how much better our world would be if those who lead in every facet of life worshipped the Lord!
• Wouldn’t the world be a better place?
• Leaders worship God by leading with integrity and by governing in accordance with God’s will.
• Leaders and rulers are not the only ones called to praise God; every person is called to do so!
• Verses 11-14 include every demographic: young and old, male and female.
• Worship is not reserved for the elite or the mature.
• It is the privilege and responsibility of every person.
• Children can praise with innocence and joy.
• The elderly can praise with wisdom and gratitude.
• Everyone has a role in the symphony of praise.
• We are called to praise the name of the Lord forever!
• But why?
• Because the name of the Lord is above every name.
• His character, His reputation, and His glory—these are reasons to worship.
• God's majesty surpasses both heaven and earth.
• He is not just a local deity; He is the sovereign Lord of all creation.
• His name is worthy of the highest honor.
• Verse 14 offers another reason for us to praise the Lord.
Psalm 148:14 NET 2nd ed.
14 He has made his people victorious, and given all his loyal followers reason to praise— the Israelites, the people who are close to him. Praise the LORD!
• Some versions use the word HORN in place of the NET2 translation of “MADE HIS PEOPLE VICTORIOUS.”
• The NET2 translation catches the flavor of the Hebrew word translated as "horn" in many versions because "horn" was used metaphorically to represent strength, power, and prominence.
• The phrase refers to the people’s new strength and power given to them by the Lord.
• For Israel, and by extension for all who belong to God through Christ, there is a unique reason to praise: we are His treasured possession.
• We are close to His heart.
• Our praise is not just about what God has done in creation, but what He has done in redemption.
CONCLUSION
• This final section brings the message home.
• You and I are called to praise the Lord.
• Regardless of your age, background, or position in life, you are invited to join the universal chorus of worship.
• If you belong to God, you have even more reason to praise Him—He has redeemed, strengthened, and claimed you.
• Let your life be a testimony of praise.
• Let your heart, words, and deeds show the greatness of the God who made and loves you.
• Let all creation praise the Lord—and let us not be the ones who remain silent.
