January 1, 2006 Scripture: Psalm 148
THE TSUNAMI OF 2004
We begin now a new year – 2006. Last year at this time we were reeling with the terrible news and TV footage of the most horrible natural disaster in recent memory – the Tsunami of Dec. 26, 2004. That terrible event forced us to ask hard questions about God and the goodness of God’s created world. Imagine the tragedy of it – a perfectly gorgeous morning on the
This leaves us with all kinds of questions and doubts. Can we truly trust God? Does this terrible tragedy call into question our belief that God is fundamentally good and worthy of praise? I do not expect to even try to answer those questions philosophically. While that is a very important task, it is not my point here. I simply want to proclaim again, that in the face of this terrible tragedy, and with our eyes wide open to the extent and devastation it has produced, we proclaim the goodness of God. We affirm that God is indeed worthy of adoration and praise. In order to help make that affirmation, let us turn to Psalm 148. For as we look forward to a new year, there is hardly a more important affirmation that we can make. God is worthy of our praise. God is truly good. May God’s praise fill the whole world.
THE HALLELUJAH PSALMS
The book of Psalms ends with a cluster of five Psalms that all open and close with the words “Praise the Lord.” This Psalm is third in this group of five Psalms – ends the book of Psalms (many of which are filled with anxiety, doubt, lament, discombobulation) with a joyful shout of praise. Psalms itself is a testament to this belief. In other words, Psalms is full of suffering and grief. No book expresses sorrow and suffering with the emotional honesty of the book of Psalms. Some Psalms are little more than a sheer agonizing shriek at God – how can you allow such suffering to exist here in my life? Read Psalm 89.
But the book (or collection) does not end there. Faith triumphs over doubt in the end. This faith has a rational explanation and is justified (not just hopeful whistling in the dark) but it is not based on reasonable explanations. It is based on the experience of creation, the joy of the Lord, and the awareness that in the midst of all the tragedy, we encounter in creation something which is basically good. The Psalms overwhelm human tragedy and suffering with unstoppable joy. Let’s look at Psalm 148 specifically.
HALLELU – YAH!
First, notice that the Psalm begins and ends with the imperative, “Praise the Lord.” Literally, the Hebrew is, “Hallelu yah.” We turn it into one word but it is actually two. Hallelu is the plural imperative form of the verb to praise. That is to say, this verb points its finger at you and says, “You, do this. You, Praise this Yah.” Who is Yah? Yah is the short form of the personal name for God – Yahweh. Yahweh is considered God’s personal name in the OT but it also has a meaning – “The one who is because he is. The one who calls all else into being. The one who is being itself.” This God was not created by other gods as the pagan deities were. This God is the only true God of ultimate being and calls all else into being. Everything else that is owes its existence to this Yahweh-God of being.
The name Yahweh is used in names and as a suffix telling who is to receive the action of the verb. It is even used in names. For instance, the former PM of
Interestingly, the verb hallal in Hebrew has its basic meaning as, “to boast in.” To praise God essentially means to boast about God. To talk about how magnificent God is so as to boast in God. I like this meaning – crass though it may be – because it adds some specificity to what it means to praise God.
So, the book of Psalms ends with five Psalms that command you and I and all creation over and over and over again, “You, Praise Yah! You, Praise Yah! You, Praise this God of Israel named Yahweh!” Not only does this Psalm begin and end with this command, it repeats it in countless ways and variations and with various recipients of the command. It actually breaks down into two basic components – verses 2-6 and 7-12. These two groups include in 2-6 the heavenly bodies and in 7-12 earthly beings.
THE PRAISE OF THE STARS?
Read again with me verses 2-6. We can understand quite easily in verse 2 how the angels can praise the Lord. That is what they were created to do. But how do the sun, moon and stars praise the Lord? Is this simply poetic license? Did they believe these planets were inhabited by some sub-deities which could praise God? We see the same kind of command to praise in the next section which deals with the praise of things on earth. In verses 7-12, we find sea creatures, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, mountains and hills, fruit trees and cedars – all commanded to praise the Lord. This occurs almost in the same breath as kings and princes and young men and maidens are commanded the same. We can understand humans commanded to praise but hardly hills.
I think we get something of the answer in verses 5-6 and we find that there is more than creative license here. There is a substantive theological point to this all (NRSV).
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.
6 He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds which cannot be passed.
The Psalmist claims that not only did God create these suns, moons and stars, he commands them to take the places they take and when they do this, they are in a sense, obeying God’s commands. Things which function in accordance with God’s role and purpose are actually giving God praise. In other words, all things created by God, in their fulfilling their God-intended role, in a sense, are giving God praise and adoration. Of course, they cannot literally give praise to God, but they do in a way speak the praises of God. And these things (sun, moon, stars, hills, animals, fruit tree, etc.) can be inspirations for us who have lips and tongues to express God’s praise. The command to praise is ultimately to us humans.
How does this work? The Psalmist has experienced a depth of God that fills his world with divine splendor. When he sees the trees, he sees them as fulfilling exactly what God intended. When he looks at the heavens he sees in them the glory and praise of God. He not only sees the beauty of God everywhere, that beauty fills him with the joy and pleasure of God himself. It is as if the trees and hills come to life and start to praise God’s glory and goodness. It isn’t simply poetic license; it is the belief and confession that God’s goodness fills every inch of this universe. This is an emotional encounter with joy that causes one to fill the goodness and pleasure of God in everything one sees or hears.
There is a rich theological/worshipful God-centeredness here that the Psalmist is recommending when he says, “Praise the Lord.” The Psalmist is inviting you into this world of worship and wonder. The Psalmist knows that this encounter with God is what God wants for each of us, and in fact is the proper response to the created world. While the created world can frighten us with its hurricanes and Tsunami, more often than not it is a source of wonder and pleasure. That wonder and pleasure call us to worship more meaningfully than any written music every could.
THE GOODNESS OF GLORY
The last few verses of this Psalm have meaning that seems to shape the rest. Interestingly, a newer kind of theme arises toward the end. Read with me verses 13-14.
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven.
The Psalmist wants to answer the question: Why should I really praise God? Why not just live my life and leave God out of it? His answer is explicit. Yahweh’s name alone is exalted. It is his glory that is above the heavens and the earth. I think the Psalmist is saying something along these lines. If you live your life without boasting in the glory of this God – the underlying essence of everything that exists – then you are missing out on the only true glory in the world. Humans are always going to glory in something. We won the Super Bowl. I bagged a buck. I bought a car. I completed the task. I got a raise. I got the job. I graduated with honors. We will always find reasons to glory in something. The Psalmist is saying something about all that human glory. It isn’t real glory. It might point to real glory but it isn’t real because it doesn’t last. No one cares who won the Super Bowl in 1976. That car you were so excited about in 1958 is now in a scrapheap. This God’s glory lasts because he lasts. He is ultimate reality.
This doesn’t mean that all those other things have no value. They do, it just isn’t lasting value. But I think we can only truly enjoy and appreciate human glory and goodness when it is in its proper perspective. Only when the worship of God, the glory of God, is central in our lives, can we fully enjoy these things of earthly goodness and glory. By centering our lives, our deepest pleasure, on the glory of this God who doesn’t change or fail, these earthly things which are wonderful can give deeper meaning and value because they are less important.
Let me illustrate. We glory as humans (value, boast in, enjoy) a person finding meaningful employment. We celebrate, “You got the job!” and throw a party. It is human glory. But the person who finds too much of their life meaning in their work, and has little sense of worth and value apart from what they do. When you don’t get the affirmation at work that you want, life suddenly takes a turn for the worse. When you loose the job, you become suicidal. Why? It isn’t worthy of real glory. Only God is worthy of deep glory – and can give deep meaning to life. A person who finds deep meaning in their relationship to God has a level of joy and happiness that allows one to enjoy human glory and goodness without being overly dependant upon it. That is why the Psalmist says that we should praise God because he alone is truly worthy of Glory. You will be a more psychologically well-rounded person by focusing your life in the glory of this God – the Yahweh who is being itself.
THE DIGNITY OF GLORY
14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of
The phrase “raised up a horn” is an interesting one. It is often understood in terms of military success or power. But one OT scholar claims it really is more of an idiom for the bestowal of dignity and fame. So what the Psalmist is saying here is that God will restore the dignity of the people who praise him. That praise itself is something that dignifies us. Read the verse closely. Actually, I would translate the Hebrew like this – to make this point absolutely clear.
14 Then he (God) will exalt the dignity of his people. Praise (of God) is appropriate for all those who are loyal to him (God), for all the children of
The point here is this. There is something about the worship and praise of God that is fitting for us. It gives a certain dignity to life. It restores a certain kind of spiritual dignity to our lives that is fitting and right. Living this God-filled life of praise and adoration is something that adds to the dignity of your life. As James Luther Mays – a great biblical scholar - has written about this verse, “The Lord has given his faithful praise as their dignity and power. They are the ones who are “near” to him. They know him and can speak his exalted name. They are given the praise with which to voice the unspoken praise of all creation. Praise is their place and purpose.”
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Is your life centered in the praises, boasting, glory and goodness of God? Is the worship of God where you center your spirit and soul this morning? Is your life filled with God’s glory so that the birds and hills draw you into God’s presence? I want to challenge you this week to participate in the Friday lunch prayer and praise service here at church. Read about it in your bulletin. I also want to challenge you to take moments during this week (new week’s resolution) to center yourself in the praise of God. To stop periodically and simply give God adoration and praise. To take every impulse you receive through your senses and turn it into praise and thanksgiving. Discipline yourself this week to transform everything you see into an excuse to boast in the glory and goodness of your God. This God alone is truly worthy of glory.