Thursday Psalms: God Raises Up!

As we read this psalm, we quickly become overwhelmed by the Lord's vast creation, completely praise-worthy and all HIs creation praises Him, even the waters, mountains & creeping things!

PSALM 148

¹ Praise the Lord!

        Praise the Lord from the heavens;

                praise Him in the heights!

² Praise Him, all His angels;

        praise Him, all His hosts!

³ Praise Him, sun and moon,

        praise Him, all you shining stars!

⁴ Praise Him, you highest heavens,

        and you waters above the heavens!

⁵ Let them praise the name of the Lord!

        For He commanded and they were created.

⁶ And He established them forever and ever;

        He gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

⁷ Praise the Lord from the earth,

        you great sea creatures and all deeps,

⁸ fire and hail, snow and mist,

        stormy wind fulfilling His word!

⁹ Mountains and all hills,

        fruit trees and all cedars!

¹⁰ Beasts and all livestock,

        creeping things and flying birds!

¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples,

        princes and all rulers of the earth!

¹² Young men and maidens together,

        old men and children!

¹³ Let them praise the name of the Lord,

        for His name alone is exalted;

        His majesty is above earth and heaven.

¹⁴ He has raised up a horn for His people,

        praise for all His saints,

        for the people of Israel who are near to Him.

        Praise the Lord! 

But in the final verse we find the greatest reason for our praise, and the Easter connection to this Sunday's readings.  "He [the Lord ] has raised up a horn for His people..."  In God's word, horns are emblems of power, dominion, glory, and fierceness, witnessed by the animals who use them as their chief means of attack and defense.  "Horn" is used as a metaphor for strength in Deuteronomy 33:17 and for honor in Job 16:15 & Lamentations 2:3, and are also symbols of royal dignity and power (Jeremiah 48:25 ; Zechariah 1:18 ; Daniel 8:24 ).  The expression "horn of salvation," applied to Christ, means a salvation of strength, or a strong Savior (Luke 1:69). 

So this week just after our glorious Easter celebration, join me in thanking & praising God, that He has "raised up" Jesus from death, to be our horn of  salvation!  Jesus gives to you His resurrection, so you and I will be raised up too!  God raises you up in the middle of troubles in this life, and God will raise you up after death to live forever with Him in heaven!

Live today in the joy of being Raised Up!

Peace in God alone,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

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Soli Deo Gloria

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..."  Psalm 111:10a