Let the Heavens and the Earth Praise the Lord!
This psalm is part of the “Final Hallel”of psalms that begin and end with “Hallellelujah.” This psalm works well after reading the Creation account in Genesis. The psalmist calls upon the heavens and all its inhabitants (1-6), and the earth and all of its inhabitants to praise the Lord (7-14).
The psalm begins with a call for the heavens to praise the Lord (1). The psalmist calls all the angels in all their number to praise the Lord their Creator (2). The psalmist personifies the heavenly bodies and call them to give glory to God (3-4). By God’s word all these were created, and they have been ordered by God and maintained in their place by Him (5-6).
The psalmist then calls upon the earth and all that is on it to praise the Lord (7). In contrast to the “heavens” the psalmist calls upon all those in the “deeps” of the oceans to praise God. Not only should the sea creatures praise God, but all nature glorifies God by obeying His decrees (8). The inanimate objects, like mountains and hills, and the living plants and trees are called to praise the Lord (9). The psalmist follows the order of creation an calls upon wild animals, domesticated animals, creeping things, and all birds to praise the Lord (10). Finally, the psalmist comes to man, the pinnacle of God’s creation. He calls upon all men, old and young, wealthy and wise, rulers and common people, to give praise to their Creator (11-12). God is worthy of praise and His glory is above all things (13). Even though the angels are in God’s presence, it is the God’s chosen people that are “near” to Him! Brethren, praise the Lord!