The call to praise the Lord is addressed to all creation, and we see that this psalm of invitation resembles a descent down the staircase...
The call to praise the Lord is addressed to all creation, and we see that this psalm of invitation resembles a descent down the staircase of the universe. At its summit is the mention of the Creator Himself, followed by an appeal to the spiritual beings He created, the angels. Then the psalmist addresses the material world: the heavenly bodies, living creatures, and natural elements. Finally, recalling the order in which the world was created, the singer addresses people, as though tracing a hierarchical staircase from higher to lower, from kings to youths.
But then, at the end of the discourse, we see how highly people have been raised in the person of the nation chosen by the Lord. Thus, being mentioned last does not mean being assigned the lowest place.
What seems insignificant may prove to be most important. And what seems like a descent may prove to be the run-up for an ascent and a rising.
148 An exhortation to all creatures in heaven and earth, man especially, to praise God, Psa 148:1-14.
148:4 Heavens of heavens - Ye highest heavens, the place of God's throne.Waters - Ye clouds which are above a part of the heavens.
148:6 Established - He hath made them constant and incorruptible, not changeable, as the things of the lower world. A decree - Concerning their continuance.
148:7 Dragons - Either serpents, which hide in the deep caverns of the earth; or whales, and other sea - monsters, which dwell in the depths of the sea.
148:8 Fire - Lightnings and other fireworks of the air. Vapour - Or, fumes: hot exhalations. Fulfilling his word - Executing his commands, either for the comfort or punishment of the inhabitants of the earth.
148:13 Above - Above all the glories which are in earth and in heaven.
148:14 The horn - In scripture commonly denotes strength, victory, glory, and felicity.