Christmas Season · First Sunday after Christmas Day · Year A
Psalm 148
Psalm 148
December 28, 2025
Overview & Insights
“Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!” (Psalm 148:1)
Praise from the Heavenly Hosts and Creatures Here Below 148:1–14 This hymn of praise consists almost entirely of imperative calls to praise addressed to lists of heavenly creatures (vv. 1–6) and earthly creatures (vv. 7–14). The creatures of the heavenly realm that are named are the spiritual beings (angels, his heavenly hosts), the lights (sun, moon, shining stars), and the clouds ( waters above the skies; the NIV’s heavens and “skies” translate the one Hb. term, šāmayim ). Among the creatures of the earthly realm, it might seem strange to see lightning, clouds, winds, etc., listed here and not with the waters above the skies in the heavenly list. Perhaps in view here are those elements of weather (esp. storms) that directly affect the earthly realm.
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Commentary
Commentary on Psalm 148 Working Preacher
Argues the psalm's unrestrained, cosmos-wide call to praise is itself an act of resistance against despair, and that Christ's incarnation is for all creation, not humanity alone, which is why it fits the Sunday after Christmas.
Psalm 148 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching notes observing that after Christmas Day's theological weight, Psalm 148 lets God simply have the last word in unrestrained praise.
Psalm 148 Bible Commentary Enduring Word (David Guzik)
Verse-by-verse evangelical study notes on the psalm's two-part structure, heaven's praise (vv.1-6) answered by earth's praise (vv.7-14).
Psalm 148:1 Commentaries BibleHub (classic commentaries)
Aggregates public-domain commentaries verse by verse on the psalm's opening summons to the heavens to praise the Lord.
Background & Word Study
Psalm 148 Sefaria
Hebrew text alongside classical Jewish commentators, giving access to the psalm's place in the Hallel-adjacent praise psalms within Jewish liturgical tradition.
Introductory Issues in Psalms Enter the Bible (Luther Seminary)
Seminary-level background lesson on the Psalter's form-critical categories, situating Psalm 148 among the concluding 'Hallelujah' psalms (146-150).
Questions preachers ask
How is Psalm 148 organised?
As a sweep from the top of creation to the bottom and back. Angels, sun, moon and stars first, then sea monsters, fire and hail, mountains, trees, animals, and only then kings and young men and women, so that humanity takes its place inside a chorus already singing.
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