The Center of the Universe – Psalm 148

A text – Psalm 148

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

³ Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!
⁴ Praise 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.
⁶ He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

⁷ Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,
⁸ fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!

⁹ Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
¹⁰ Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!

¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
¹² Young men and women alike, old and young together!

¹³ Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.
¹⁴ 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!

A reflection:

Every part of creation is called to praise God the Creator of the Universe. The chaotic waters, the stars, planets, and moons. The sea monsters. The elements – fire and snow and frost, and story wind. Mountains and hills, plants and trees, animals of all sorts. And then humans, kings and all. All are to praise the Lord their ruler, their creator.

Why is there a psalm of praise, addressed to everyone and everything in the universe? Why a command this Christmastide to praise the creator? I’m not sure, but it’s pretty easy for us humans to think of ourselves as the center of all the action at the most ordinary of times, and during the holidays perhaps we get caught up in the drama of gifts, of being included or left out, of feeling everything should turn out our way. It is good to realize that we are just one being on a planet of millions of humans, billions of other creatures and hills and waters and snow and wind. ALL of creation is meant to be praising our Creator, who is, INDEED, the center of the Universe, and who loves us and lets us co-create a trustworthy world together with Godself.

We have a renewing Christmas gift, a God-given destiny and mission. God’s will is at the center of it. So Praise the Lord!

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for the call to praise the Lord at Christmas. Thank you for the reminder that we live among many people and pieces of nature and even creation we cannot see. Help us to remember that You, Oh Lord, are our Center and our Goal.  Amen.