HIS GLORY ABOVE THE EARTH AND HEAVEN

This psalm looks forward to the form of worship that will characterize the millennium—the thousand glorious years when the Lord Jesus Christ will rule in righteousness.

The choirmaster assembles his universal choir for the great “Hallelujah Chorus” psalm; this goes beyond Psalm 138 which is occupied with the praise of those on earth to the Saviour God. It looks higher, and includes the heavens and its animate and inanimate occupants, and thereafter collects every phase of earthy life in a great hallelujah!

The heavens and its occupants are to praise the Lord, “for he commanded, and they were created”, v. 5. The Lord’s creatorial power demands His creatures’ praise, equally that of the earth, its strange creatures, and its natural phenomena (fire, hail, snow and vapours, stormy wind fulfilling His word). Prominent geological features (mountains and all hills), vegetable life (fruitful trees and all cedars), and animal life, all are to praise the Lord. Even stones would cry out, Luke 19. 40. The whole groaning creation in that coming day will have finished groaning, Rom. 8. 22, and will be praising Him as it should.

In this vast choir, every kind of human being has his or her part to sing: kings, princes and judges, young men and maidens, old men and children, people of all nations, “let them praise the name of the Lord”, v. 13, because “his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven”.

The nation of Israel has the most prominent place: “a people near unto him”, because they are “his saints”; for them, the Messiah is a horn of salvation.

This universal choir will be in full voice in millennial days, when God’s kingdom will have come, and when His will will be done on earth as it is in heaven, Matt. 6. 10.

Today there is a song in heaven and there are “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” on earth, Eph. 5. 19. The heavenly song is a new song, Rev. 5. 9, 10, whose words are “Thou art worthy … for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth”. These redeemed arise from all nations, but they are all of one class, kings and priests.