Reading: Psalm 148

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!

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

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded and they were created.
He established them for ever and ever
he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!

Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!

Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and women alike,
old and young together!

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!

Reflection

As we conclude our series of devotions around “The Messages of Christmas,” today we look at peace. I’d like to look at peace through the lens of creation and quietness.

This passage that we read today from Psalms was put to music by John Ness Beck in a choral piece I sang in high school called, “Canticle of Praise.” Whenever I read the words in this psalm, I hear that music in my head from my days at All-State Choir in my junior year. When singing some of the words, the music is very loud and sounds quite fanfare-ish.

Jesus came to earth without much fanfare. He arrived in swaddling clothes, laid in a manager, in a barn. Scripture tells us that we should pause and wait upon God and listen to God’s still small voice.

In this psalm, we see many loud ways of praise. Fire! Hail! Storm! But what about that peace we feel after a winter snowstorm, with a ground covered in white and relatively no noise? God is there, too, in the quiet.

This Christmas season, look around you for peace. Take some quiet time with God to hear God’s still, small voice. And remember that Christ came into this world to give us peace.

–Chad Hershberger

Prayer   

You are the peace that passes understanding. May we feel that peace and hear your still voice in lives.

Amen.