Thursday, April 12, 2007

Commanding All Creation

Praise the LORD!
(Psalm 148:1)
Here the psalm writer is seen as the worship leader for all Creation. That is why we were made, to subdue all creation and bring it into the proper and divine order, so that it may always be to the praise of His glory. To us has been given the authority and privilege — and the responsibility — to command all of heaven and earth to praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all you stars of light!
Praise Him, you heavens above the heavens,
And you waters above the heavens!
(vv. 1-4)
Every sphere and realm of heaven, even the highest heavens, and all their inhabitants, are included — the angels and all the hosts of God (for He is called Yahweh Sabaoth, the “LORD of Hosts”), as well as the sun, moon and stars of the physical universe.

Quantum theory suggests that subatomic particles, once they have been joined, even if they should be separated by the entire universe, will react identically. This means that how one of those particles responds to stimuli on earth, the other will respond in the exact same way — even though it may be on the other side of the universe!

Now, the stuff of our bodies is the stuff of the earth, and the stuff of the earth is the same stuff as the rest of the physical realm. In other words, our bodies are joined together with all of the natural creation. When we give praise to God, will that not resonate throughout all the heavens? Indeed, this psalm shows us that we have authority to command all of the heavens to release their praise to Yahweh.
Praise the LORD from the earth,
You great sea creatures and all the depths;
Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;
Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl;
Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
Both young men and maidens;
Old men and children.
(vv. 7-12)
Jesus commanded the wind and the waves to be still and at peace, and they obeyed. He brought them into the divine order, and they became a glory to God. He commanded the fig tree and it obeyed Him (though in that instance He used it as a sign of judgment on the unbelieving Jewish leaders), and it revealed His divine glory. He taught the disciples to speak to the sycamore tree, the mountain, and whatever stood in the way of the glory of God being made known. He taught us all to command the will of God to be done on earth just as it is being done in heaven. It is all about His kingdom coming and His glory manifesting everywhere.

We have been given this authority over all beasts, all sea creatures, all the birds and all creeping things. And to us has been given the privilege and responsibility of calling all peoples — even kings and princes — to praise the name of the LORD. His name alone is to be given the highest praise, for it is greater than all the heavens and earth put together.

The LORD has lifted up and enabled His people, whom He has brought near to Himself, so that we may bring all honor and glory to Him (v. 14). He created us in His own likeness, and when we fell into sin, restored us to be partakers of His divine nature, so that we may command the praises of heaven and earth to be released unto Him. All creation waits in eager anticipation for this to be revealed through us.

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