Call to Worship

Kings of the earth, and all people…young men, and maidens; old men, and children: let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent – Psalm 148:11-13

Religious skeptics have suggested that Christianity is only for the uneducated, for the poor, for the ignorant. But here everyone is called to worship the Lord. Kings and children, strong young women and feeble old men – everyone is to exalt the one true God.

Why? Because his name alone is excellent. Paul speaks of this surpassing glory of Christ, who has “a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). There are rulers, there are kings, there are dictators, there are czars — but then there is the unique, supremely reigning King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

He is always worthy of every person’s praise and service and trust. He is not a fad or a momentary phenomenon, like so many of the things to which we so easily and so quickly give our admiration and affection and attention.

Perhaps you have excused yourself from whole-hearted devotion to Jesus Christ. Young people tell themselves that they will serve him “later” and elderly people decide they are too far gone to be of any use. Everyone in the middle is too busy to be bothered at all.

But let all people praise the name of the Lord, the psalmist exclaims. That means you, wherever you are and whatever your age or circumstances.