the creation praises the Creator

Psalm 148

Praise the Name of the LORD

 ¹ Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens;
   praise him in the heights!
²Praise him, all his angels;
   praise him, all his hosts!

 ³Praise him, sun and moon,
   praise him, all you shining stars!
⁴Praise him, you highest heavens,
   and you waters above the heavens!

 ⁵ Let them praise the name of the LORD!
   For he commanded and they were created.
⁶And he established them forever and ever;
   he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

 ⁷Praise the LORD from the earth,
   you great sea creatures and all deeps,
⁸ fire and hail, snow and mist,
    stormy wind fulfilling his word!

 ⁹ Mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars!
¹⁰ Beasts and all livestock,
   creeping things and flying birds!

 ¹¹Kings of the earth and all peoples,
   princes and all rulers of the earth!
¹²Young men and maidens together,
   old men and children!

 ¹³ Let them praise the name of the LORD,
   for his name alone is exalted;
    his majesty is above earth and heaven.
¹⁴He has raised up a horn for his people,
    praise for all his saints,
   for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the LORD!

Why does this Earth abound with such color, such wonder? Why do birds’ feathers lay in such brilliant patterns and still beat the wind to defy gravity and take flight? How is it that a small seed can become a mighty tree, and that tree can bear fruit with its own array of intricate hues? Have you considered a verdant field? Blades of grass and pine needles and leaves, thousands of them, each a unique part of a grand tapestry, dancing in the breeze, and serving the forest’s creatures. Why is it all here?

As I write this a glistening winter frost covers the yard. The morning sun lights each crystal and the cold world suddenly looks radiant. My little part of the Earth is extraordinary. Somewhere else, right now, a great whale maneuvers a deep ocean current. Clouds bring snow, or dazzling lightning, or thunderous hail. A mountain casts a rugged shadow where still another astonishing creature rests. I’m overwhelmed by the magnitude and the scope and the creativity of it all. But why is it all here?

Because life formed in some primordial soup millions of years ago, and then things just sort of developed into what they are? Ludicrous! The sun and moon, the shining stars, the fathomless ocean deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, apple orchards and cedars, snakes and sparrows… oh what an artistic and inventive God we have! God designed and created it all because He is a God of creation, and all of it returns praise to Him for its very existence. “Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.” And don’t forget, His splendor tops it all!

We too are God’s brilliant creation, and we too must respond in praise. This Psalm’s bookends are the Hebrew Hallelu Yah. Give praise to God. These should be the bookends of every single day we’re granted to exist in this remarkable world God made. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!