Psalm 148

“Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!” (Psalm 148:1)

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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