Connect Psalm 148:10 with Genesis 1:31 on God's view of creation. Setting the Scene Genesis opens with the sweeping declaration that God’s handiwork is “very good,” while Psalm 148 invites every creature—down to “crawling creatures and flying birds”—to join the chorus of praise. Reading them together gives us a fuller glimpse of God’s heart for His creation. Key Verses • Genesis 1:31: “And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good.” • Psalm 148:10: “wild animals and all cattle, crawling creatures and flying birds,” Creation Declared ‘Very Good’ • After six days of forming land, sea, skies, plants, stars, animals, and humanity, God pauses, surveys it all, and calls it “very good.” • “Very good” is God’s own verdict—He finds no flaw, no misstep, no partial success. • This assessment establishes a baseline: everything God creates has inherent worth and purpose. Creation Invited to Praise • Psalm 148 pictures an ever-expanding symphony of worship: – v. 1-4: realms above (angels, sun, moon, stars) – v. 7-10: realms below (sea monsters, storms, mountains, trees) – v. 10: “wild animals and all cattle, crawling creatures and flying birds” • The psalmist assumes each creature, simply by being what God made it to be, offers genuine praise. • “He commanded and they were created” (v. 5) echoes Genesis 1’s repeated “And God said… and it was so,” stitching the two passages together. What These Texts Reveal About God’s View of Creation • Delight: Genesis 1:31 shows God not merely tolerates but delights in His work. • Purposeful Design: Each creature, from cattle to creeping things, exists by deliberate choice (Colossians 1:16). • Ongoing Praise: Creation’s role is not finished at Day 6; it continues in a perpetual state of worship (Psalm 19:1). • Interconnected Goodness: The same creatures God called “very good” are the ones summoned to praise, showing no hierarchy of value in God’s eyes. Living Out This Vision • Appreciation: Notice and celebrate the diversity of God’s created world—birdsong, blooming flowers, even the smallest insect. • Stewardship: Because God pronounces creation “very good,” we treat it with respect (Genesis 2:15; Proverbs 12:10). • Humility: Joining the praise of animals and earth reminds us we are participants in, not masters of, God’s choir (Job 38–39). • Witness: Creation’s unceasing testimony points others to the Creator’s power and goodness (Romans 1:20). Closing Reflection Genesis 1:31 anchors us in God’s original verdict of goodness; Psalm 148:10 invites all creatures to respond with praise. Together they paint a consistent, compelling picture: God values His creation, enjoys its beauty, and delights when every part of it—human and non-human—joins in glorifying Him. |
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