Psalm 145
All your works praise you, O Lord!
Read/pray the psalm. (Full text at bottom.)
10 All your works praise you, O Lord!
More than any other until Christ, David represents the ideal human, a king standing between heaven and the earthly realm, representing all of us, as regents of creation, but also acting as a kind of “priest” of earth to heaven, and heaven to earth.
While animals use some audible signals, these are crude compared to ours.
So only a human, such as St. Francis, can preach to the animals.
(Do NOT tell me that that’s not legit, if you have ever talked to an animal, or any other created thing! haha)
And only a human, such as David, can interpret the mutterings of nature to say, “All your works praise you, Lord!” [10]
Only we can interpret the meaning of creation’s utterances in spoken praise.
So…
Find something in the natural world—tree, plant, stream, sky, animal, bird, ocean wave, mountain—and know that God created it to reflect his glory.
Now interpret that as praise, precisely for doing its thing.
Here are examples to inspire you:
“For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” [Isaiah 55:12]
“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth.” [Psalm 96:11-13]
“Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.”
[Psalm 98:7-9]
The lions seek their meat from God with roaring. [Psalm 104:21]
“Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!” [Psalm 148]
Now you try, speaking either to the creatures, or to God: Just watch patiently, until the Holy Spirit shows you something.
Psalm 145 Exaltabo te, Deus 1 I will magnify you, O God my King, * and I will praise your Name for ever and ever. 2 Every day will I give thanks to you, * and praise your Name for ever and ever. 3 Great is the Lord, and most worthy to be praised; * there is no end of his greatness. 4 One generation shall praise your works to another, * and shall declare your power. 5 As for me, I will be talking of the glorious splendor of your majesty, * and of all your wondrous works. 6 They shall speak of the might of your marvelous acts, * and I also will tell of your greatness. 7 The remembrance of your abundant goodness shall they proclaim, * and they shall sing of your righteousness. 8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, * long-suffering, and of great kindness. 9 The Lord is loving to everyone, * and his mercy is over all his works. 10 All your works praise you, O Lord, * and your faithful servants give thanks to you. 11 They speak of the glory of your kingdom * and talk of your power, 12 That your power may be known to the children of men, * even the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, * and your dominion endures throughout all ages. 14 The Lord upholds all those who fall * and lifts up all those who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, * and you give them their food in due season. 16 You open wide your hand, * and fill all things living with plenteousness. 17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways * and merciful in all his works. 18 The Lord is near to all those who call upon him, * to all who call upon him faithfully. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him; * he also will hear their cry and will help them. 20 The Lord preserves all those who love him, * but he will destroy all the ungodly. 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; * and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy Name for ever and ever. New Coverdale Psalter