{"id":1919,"date":"2011-07-20T23:32:49","date_gmt":"2011-07-21T07:32:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oxgoad.ca\/2011\/07\/21\/choir-of-creation-ps-148\/"},"modified":"2011-07-21T00:34:23","modified_gmt":"2011-07-21T08:34:23","slug":"choir-of-creation-ps-148","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oxgoad.ca\/2011\/07\/20\/choir-of-creation-ps-148\/","title":{"rendered":"Choir of Creation – Ps 148"},"content":{"rendered":"
We are nearing the end of our study of the Psalms. Just two more to go! Tonight\u2019s offering was Ps 148, a beautifully crafted psalm, full of powerful thoughts concerning God and his relationship to his people. As I presented the material, I felt a little \u2018flat\u2019, not as engaged as I had anticipated in the study. As I was thinking the process over, I thought that this was one psalm that could have used some visual aids and perhaps a bit different style. I alternate between a preaching style and a \u2018Question\/Answer\u2019 style for the Psalms. (The Q & A style is also known as \u201cread my mind\u201d, since I seem to come up with incredibly obscure questions. I need to learn how to write leading questions!)<\/p>\n
Psalm 148 is called the Choir of Creation<\/em> by Derek Kidner, one of the supreme commentators on the Psalms. His little work is just outstanding and has taught me an incredible amount about Hebrew poetry and how to pick out the features of the psalms, not to mention keen insights into each individual psalm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The first thing to notice about this psalm is the \u2018locale\u2019 of each potential worshipper. The psalmist begins in heaven, calling the angels to worship (1-2). The first half of the psalm (1-6) descends \u2018Jacob\u2019s ladder\u2019 to the realm of sun, moon and stars then to the \u2018firmament\u2019 and the waters above the \u2018firmament\u2019 (to use the Genesis 1 kjv terms!) \u2014 that is, the third stage refers to the clouds and the air above the earth. All things in the heights are called to praise our God.<\/p>\n The second half (7-14) of the psalm begins in the \u2018deeps\u2019 and works its way up through the earth and the creatures on it, to man, even man in covenant relationship with God, i.e.<\/em>, Israel itself, in the midst of the earth. You can see by this \u2018movement\u2019 that all creation is compassed by the various groups called to praise the Lord.<\/p>\n