Canter Bridge

Clearly a reflection upon the creation narrative of Genesis 1, the ‘hallelujah psalm’ that is numbered as the psalter’s 148th brings all of creation into its doxological vortex.

As is customary with biblical praise, the psalm deconstructs reigning mythologies that pose as unquestionable depictions of reality. Sun, moon, and stars—for example—are not merely stripped of their purported power over human beings. That much is already accomplished in Genesis 1. Here, the matter is taken a step further: they join in praising YHWH, and this for an interesting motive: ‘for he commanded and they were created’.

No longer powers to be feared, scrutinized, and manipulated, the heavenly bodies now take their place in the congregation of the praiseful beside the sons and daughters of Israel.

Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD from the heavens,
praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for he commanded and they were created.
He set them in place for ever and ever;
he gave a decree that will never pass away. (Psalm 148:1-6 NIV)

I am unaware of any similar construction, whereby the most potent of created beings and objects give themselves over to grateful doxology for the bare fact of having been sovereignly created. It is a supreme act of debasement, though not of humiliation. Heavenly bodies join the more personality-driven angelic ‘heavenly host’ in being firmly placed on the created side of the Creator-creation bifurcation. They represent for YHWH no competition in the sovereignty department. To the contrary, they praise him as loudly as any other of the assembled throng.

The point of YHWH’s uniqueness is brought home again near the psalm’s conclusion. Taking up language that is in form common both to Isaiah and to the psalms, the poem indulges explicitly in YHWH-only/YHWH-alone language:

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
He has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his saints,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the LORD.

So does biblical monotheism take shape in the context of worship. It is seldom expressed prosaically or even theoretically. Rather poetry and praise recognize YHWH’s unique place as the only being worthy of worship, the only power to whom all others willingly bend, the only one who stands over against creation.

Hallelujah, in such a world, becomes the most worthy word. It alone is capable of accurately ordering creation. It becomes the doxological context in which being finds its meaning.

Even sun, moon, and stars say so, and gladly.