This week, I went with the entire staff from Highrock Church to our annual staff retreat at Pilgrim Pines. At this remote location, in the Monadnock region of NH, my senses suddenly became heightened as everything seemed… so quiet. In fact, it was even hard for me to fall asleep at night because I couldn’t hear the sounds of traffic, airplanes, or people in our neighborhood.

As I tossed and turned, I thought, “There is a deafening silence here in these woods.” But, during my time there, GOD showed me I was wrong, as the night sky seemingly cried out with a canopy of stars. And, on my morning walk, the lush greenery and woods were teeming with birds, a gentle brook, squirrels, chipmunks, and wildlife, the wind blew through the pines, the lake even had a rhythm with the sound of gentle waves washing ashore, while the beautifully haunting sounds of loons called from the lake in the background.

It reminded me of a symphony orchestra, where strings, winds, brass, and percussion all come together to combine this amazing tapestry of sound.

It also reminded me of Psalm 148, verses 3-4, 9-10, which says:

Praise him, sun and moon,
     praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
     and you waters above the heavens!

Mountains and all hills,
     fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all livestock,
     creeping things and flying birds!

Yet, all of humanity is also included within this psalm as well (vs. 11-12). Saying:

Kings of the earth and all peoples,
     princes and all rulers of the earth!

Young men and women alike,
     old and young together!

Within this crescendo of “noise,” rising from all of humanity and nature alike, comes a final exhortation from the LORD (vs. 13-14):

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
     for his name alone is exalted;
     his splendor is above the earth and the       heavens.

And he has raised up for his people a horn,
     the praise of all his faithful servants,
     of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the Lord.

This final exhortation is for all of Creation to praise Yah-weh (i.e. Hallelu-jah!) for His name, splendor, and because He has raised up… a horn, a symbol of strength, which will be the praise of His people.

In conclusion, it’s been said that Christ is evident in each of the psalms from the Bible. And, this psalm is no different, as we are exhorted to add our own voice, artistry, work, and creativity, together with all of Creation, in praising Yah-weh for the horn, i.e. the King, this symbol of GOD’s strength and love, which has been raised up for us.

Pastor Robert Bloodworth\
RobertB@Highrock.org