Psalm One Hundred and Forty Eight

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

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Psalm 148:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

Psalm 148:2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

Psalm 148:3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

Psalm 148:4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

heaven of heavens. Psalm 148:1-6 of this central psalm of these five praise psalms exhorts the entire celestial creation, both the stellar and angelic hosts of heaven, to praise the Lord when He has redeemed and restored the creation.

above the heavens. The “waters above the heavens” (Genesis 1:7) were presumably all precipitated at the time of the Flood. But since they are to be there forever (Psalm 148:6), they must be restored somehow in the redeemed and renewed earth. See notes on Revelation 21, etc.

Psalm 148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.

were created. This clearly speaks of fiat, instantaneous creation, not creation occurring over millions of years. Note also Psalm 33:9; Exodus 20:11.

Psalm 148:6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

for ever and ever. Although the earth and its elements must yet be cleansed by fire (2 Peter 3:10), God's physical universe will endure forever. God is not capricious; He does not “un-create” what He has created (Ecclesiastes 3:14). See also Psalm 78:69; 104:5; Daniel 12:3.

Psalm 148:7 Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:

from the earth. Psalm 148:7-14 exhorts the whole terrestrial creation to praise the Lord, after it has been renewed. In contrast, the present creation is “groaning and travailing in pain” under the “bondage of corruption” (Romans 8:20-22).

ye dragons. These “dragons” are not mythical animals but are probably dinosaurs.

Psalm 148:8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

Psalm 148:9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:

Psalm 148:10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

Beasts and all cattle. During the millennial period, there will be restored harmony in the animal kingdom (Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25).

Psalm 148:11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

Psalm 148:12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:

Psalm 148:13 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

Psalm 148:14 He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.