Focus
Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.
Read
Psalm 148 (NRSV)
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!
Reflect
“Praise the Lord” is resounded 13 times in Psalm 148, and it is the refrain of a song for all of creation!
I love worship at presbytery meetings when people come from the four corners of our region. We are required to come as members, we are compelled to come because of a sense of duty, but more importantly, we should delight in coming for the privilege of praising the Lord.
On a bigger scale, many of us gather annually for worship during General Assembly. This year our numbers will swell as we praise with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. All voices gathering to praise the Lord will be a highlight in the lives of those who attend.
Now think on an even bigger scale. In Psalm 148, all people of the world including the elite (verse 11) are gathering to worship. Not only are we obligated to sing praise with the world, but all of God’s creation is called upon to join us in echoing the praise. All generations (verse 12), all deeps (verse 7), highest heavens (verse 4), all nature (verse 9), all creatures (verse 10), the throne of God (verse 2), even the weather (verse 8) join the cacophony.
Now, that’s a worship service of which I want to be a part! Praise the Lord!
Pray
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! May our voices, the voices of the world, voices of all the angels, and the voices of all creation perform a beautiful symphony of praise today! With praise and through the power of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Go with God.
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