Praise the Lord from the earth— Praise the Lord, ye [or ye creatures] of the earth; ye sea-animals, or crocodiles, or whales, &c. And so the first verse should be rendered, praise the Lord, ye [or ye inhabitants] of the heavens; which are first enumerated, and then from this verse, the inhabitants of the earth. See Delaney's Life of David, book 1: chap. 17.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, The Psalmist calls on heaven to begin the hallelujah, and earth must echo back the sound.
1. The heavens, and angelic hosts who them inhabit, the first of God's creation, who in the heights of glory nearest approach his throne of light inaccessible, are addressed, as those who with the most exalted praises should lead the song. Not that these bright spirits are backward to the work, or silent, day or night, in the delightful service; but the Psalmist would express the fervency of his own desires, that God should be glorified by the highest and noblest of his creatures; and would stir up himself and others to the work, which is the happiness and employment of all these sons of God in glory. Note; We in nothing more resemble angels, than when we sing the high praises of our God.
2. Not only the intellectual beings of the upper world, but the creatures void of reason, must shew forth his praise. Those orbs of light, that shed on this earth their benign influences; the sun, the moon, and glittering stars, shine audibly, and in the ear of enlightened reason proclaim aloud the glory of their great Creator. Praise him, ye heaven of heavens; and, ye waters that be above the heavens, divided by the firmament from the waters beneath, all must praise the name of the Lord; for by his power they were made, by his providence they are upheld, and their duration is fixed by him.
2nd, From the celestial world and upper regions the Psalmist descends to this terrestrial globe, from which a tribute of praise should ascend from every creature, whether intelligent, irrational, or inanimate.
1. The sea and its inhabitants are called on to praise the Lord. The dragons, or whales, and all deeps; the shoals of fish that swim beneath the waters, from the least unto the greatest, declare their Maker's work.
2. The meteors of the sky, and exhalations, fire, hail, snow, vapours, stormy winds, all fulfil his word, go forth at his bidding, and are stayed at his command.
3. The earth, and all that dwell therein; mountains, hills, fruitful trees, and cedars; creatures though inanimate, rise up to praise him; while every beast of the forest, the lowing herds, the bleating flocks, and every reptile, and every flying fowl, join in their adoration, all admirably suited for the station they fill, and corresponding with their Maker's great design.
4. The rational creatures, endowed with speech, that as the tongue of this lower world they might present the tribute of all the creatures, are enjoined to raise the song. High and low, rich and poor, young and old, of either sex, must unite their praises. None so great as to be excused, none so low as to be despised, from lisping infancy to decrepit age. And reason good there is for so doing; for his name alone is excellent; none like him, none to compare with him: his glory is above the earth and heaven, exalted far above all blessing and praise which the creatures in both can render.
5. From his Israel he hath especial demands of gratitude. They are his people, exalted to the highest state of dignity, even to be called saints, and brought near unto him, in a covenant of grace through the Redeemer; admitted into a state of communion with him, and enjoying the distinguishing tokens of his favour; and therefore most justly doth he deserve to be their praise, the great and glorious object of it in time and in eternity. Amen. Hallelujah.