August 14, 2019 (Wednesday)
The psalmist seems to be ecstatic as he invites Heaven and Earth to join in praising the LORD. I envision him moving about, gesturing, sometimes shouting, perhaps even laughing with joy, calling out to everyone in Heaven and then to every created thing on earth to join in the praises.
New International Version (NIV)
I. PRAISE FROM THE HEAVENS (1-6)
1 Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever–
he issued a decree that will never pass away.
II. PRAISE FROM THE EARTH (7-14)
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
III. PRAISE FROM ISRAEL (14)
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his faithful servants,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the Lord.
Click here for Pulpit Commentary on Psalm 148
Click here for Easy English Explanations about Psalm 148
Click here for Cambridge Bible Commentary notes on Psalm 148
Click here for Spurgeon’s Treasury of David on Psalm 148
Click here for Enduring Word Commentary on Psalm 148
The popular hymn, “Joy to the World,” was actually written about the Second Coming of Christ. But it is now one of the most popular Christmas songs ever. If you listen carefully, you will hear music from Handel’s “The Messiah.”
We cannot help but feel real joy in our hearts when we sing it. It is an exuberant melody and message. It is a shining reflection of the message in Psalm 148: “Praise from the Heavens and Praise from the Earth.”
JOY TO THE WORLD
Isaac Watts
1719
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
Click here for a list of Psalms we will study from June 5, 2019 to August 28, 2019