Excerpted from Keep Awake, an Advent Guide for Lectionary Year A from the North Carolina Council of Churches.
Psalm 148
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.[a]
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!
In grand fashion, the psalmist emphasizes the sheer presence of God in our world. The glory and exultation of this passage makes it hard to understand how we can forget, or become unaware of God’s power. The imagery of deep water creatures, fierce weather, the stars and skies beyond our sight, and all that fills our world – how could we ever need such a reminder of our God?
“Praise the Lord!” is a call to worship, seek, be reminded of, and look for God in our day. If God is involved in our world in such magnificent yet intricate ways, our Creator is with us in our matters, from minute to life-changing.
As we continue to live in unpredictable times and navigate more than what seems possible, there is assurance. Peace is available to us. The psalmist reminds us that the more we seek God, we will become aware of God everywhere. This awareness will sustain us. If we are looking for God’s involvement in our world and our lives, we will find a power and peace that makes us whole. This mindfulness gives us strength for whatever God convicts us towards. This awareness helps us in the moments that make up our day and our existence. In our seeking, we can rest, knowing that our day is filled with sacred reminders of a God who knows us and loves us.
We give thanks for a Creator God who has such stunning power yet loves us delicately, supporting us through so many unknowns. Let us seek to notice the sacred ways of God holding us.
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