This is not a critical issue, but proper exegesis is. None of your references proves that animals are offering volitional worship, in response to consciousness of God.
>....And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. I Kings 17:4-6<
The clouds and the sun obey God, and give Him glory as all creation does, but not in a manner that man is able to and is called to do. Where is it said that God spoke to an animal and he responded out of a heart that choose to love God, loved though he could have done otherwise? It is not manifest that they are given that responsibility. Note: when God used Balaams donkey it was “the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice”. (2 Pet 2:16)
>But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In Whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:7-10<
I myself provided this verse as proof that animals have souls, which is not the issue. This passage is poetic language, as the earth does not literally speak or teach as man does, and does not prove it worships as man can.
>Who provides food for the ravens when their young cry out to God as they wander about in hunger? Job 38:41<
>All the earth bows down to You; they sing praise to You, they sing praise to Your name, Selah. Psalms 66:4<
Poetic. And David’s enemies came to eat up his flesh, as their land was one that eateth up the inhabitants thereof. (Ps. 27:2; Num. 13:32) And see next comment.
>Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl; Kings of the earth and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men and maidens old men and children: Let them praise the name of the Lord: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven. Psalms 148:10-13<
All creation now praises God by their very existence, as “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. {2} Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. {3} There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” (Psa 19:1-3)
And one day i believe all creation could by an act of will worship God, but this does not evidence that all creation is now conscious of their Creator, with will that can worship God or not.
>And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Isaiah 40:5<
That is the main thing! If animals now pray and worship by an act of will, fine, but this is not established in Scripture. But what the Bible provides is clear evidence that angels and man are creations that have this God-consciousness, and only man is said to possess a body, soul and spirit. And thus to man it is written,
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Eccl 12:13)
Angels have sinned and fallen. Man has sinned and is fallen, provoking a curse upon all the world and the creatures in it. Other than man, with knowledge of good and evil and hence a requisite for “volitional” worship, God’s creatures remain in accord with His will. They have not sinned. They suffer and die because of man’s sin.
We had and continue to have dominion over creation. We are created in His image, alone among the creatures, including angels, which I’m sure you will admit are greater than us. Does this somehow diminish our standing before the Lord? It does not.
There are animals in Heaven. Are these animals that have never experienced an earthly existence? Why would God subject any creature that was intended for eternal life to futility? Especially when it was not they who brought sin into this world, and corruption, decay and death along with it.
I’ve posted Biblical passages that plainly describe all God’s creatures as having hope of the glorious liberty of the sons of God. You, yourself agree that animals have souls. So, I’m not quite sure where you’re coming from, unless you actually believe that a merciful and just God takes eternal vengeance upon the blameless, and obliterates the obedient.
He does not.
Fallen angels who rebelled against Him and left their heavenly habitation will be destroyed. Those among mankind who reject salvation and remain in rebellion will be destroyed. Those among mankind who accept salvation, along with those creatures who never rebelled in the first place, will not be destroyed. They will live. Death itself will be destroyed as well, so those lives will not end.
It can’t possibly be more clear.