Finally Warmth!
It is finally warm in New Jersey, so it called the final psalms to my attention, when effervesent praise is the theme. Here’s Psalm 148 in its entirety, before you go out and have a great weekend in the sun!
Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for at his command they were created,
and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree that will never pass away.
Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
young men and women,
old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
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.
funny thing is, thom, that you posted this up on the first not-warm/nice day that we’ve had here in vancouver in a couple of weeks. we had freak hailstorm, then thunder and steady rain, then a couple inches of snow, within a few hours. that’s why they call it the rain-coast. and then, sun and warmth again today. in both situations – as i make my ten minute walk to and from the bus stop, or as i run through the quieter, tree-lined streets of my neighborhood, or as i daydream in the library about moving back into the mountains this summer – i’m thinking with you, “praise the LORD from the earth! – from exactly THIS beautiful, God-created, earth. After all: “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness therein.” Yes! DP