Psalms 148:10

(vv. 7-13) The earth is called to praise the Lord. The sea creatures and the deep where they belong are called to praise. So are the changing elements — lightning and hail, snow and mist, and stormy wind fulfilling His word. So are the solid mountains and hills, the trees and the animals. Last of all comes man, the crown of the earthly scene. Kings and peoples, men and young women, old and young are all called to join in praising the One whose Name alone is exalted, whose glory is above the earth and the heavens.

After this the animals of the earth will praise Him, though without understanding. This even includes creeping things and birds, which were created before man was (v. 10). But if those things praise Him, what of mankind? Great numbers today refuse to give honour to their Creator. But then the "kings of the earth" are called on to do so, and "all peoples"… No one is left out. "Young men and maidens, old men and children" are just as much called to join in this great symphony of praise to the living God.

Psalm 148 follows with Hallelujahs that seem to echo through the whole creation. It looks ahead to the glorious praise that will fill the millennial scene.

Sin has spread through the whole creation and corrupted everything. We see anger and strife, envy, greed, revenge and violence all through the animal world around us. It runs from the fierce lion down to the little angry bee, from the tame dog to the ravenous wolf… Right now the whole creation groans and suffers together in pain. It waits with eager longing for "the revealing of the sons of God." In the millennial kingdom it will be "delivered from the bondage of corruption." That kingdom is under the sceptre of the "Prince of Peace" and "King of Righteousness," and it is the time of the "liberty of the glory of the children of God."

Noah carried them, "two of every sort," with himself and his household through the waters into the new world. The same covenant that settled him and his descendants there provided just as much for them (Gen. 9:10)… Later Moses redeemed them all out of Egypt… And under the law he sanctified them all to Jehovah — the fruit of the land and of the cattle, as well as the fruit of man. This shows us that Jehovah claimed the whole system as His own… And in the coming kingdom they will still own Him. All will be in subjection to Him and will join in the joy of redemption, beasts and all cattle praising the Lord (Ps. 148:10; Heb. 2:8; Rev. 5:13).

David's harp is a sign: even the lowest, lifeless parts of nature answer and make harmony in the hand of man. It lies with him, God's highest and intelligent creature, to bring out and express these harmonies — to make the silence vocal. If he does not take his God-given place, no one knows what nature can do. Its depths stay unexplored, and God's design and glory in it are hidden and misread. What will its awakening be when the earth is put into the hands of the Second, the ideal Man? How our David will make all nature His harp of many strings, and lead the anthem of praise from all creation!