The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands.
Day after day pours forth speech,
And night after night reveals knowledge. (Psalm 19:1-2 AMP)
Many of the Psalms include stunning visual images of the beauty and power of Creation. This week my Bible Recap took me through Psalm 65, one of those psalms. The thought struck me: how would you understand these verses if you’d never seen these things?
“O God, to the farthest corners of the planet people will stand in awe, startled and stunned by your signs and wonders. Sunrise brilliance and sunset beauty both take turns singing their songs of joy to you. Your visitations of glory bless the earth; the rivers of God overflow and enrich it.
“You paint the wheat fields golden as you provide rich harvests. Every field is watered with the abundance of rain—showers soaking the earth and softening its clods, causing seeds to sprout throughout the land.
“You crown the earth with the fruits of your goodness. Wherever you go, the tracks of your chariot wheels drip with oil. Luxuriant green pastures boast of your bounty as you make every hillside blossom with joy. The grazing meadows are covered with flocks, and the fertile valleys are clothed with grain, each one dancing and shouting for joy, creation’s celebration! They’re all singing their songs of praise to you!” (Psalm 65:8-13 TPT)
What amazing and beautiful images! And they all point to the God of Creation!!
But how well do we connect with these images if we’ve never seen a wide open field, a beautiful valley, a blooming hillside, or even a sunrise or sunset? Many people, especially in major metropolitan areas, may have little access to these simple but beautiful parts of God’s creation.
As you probably know, Jesus used lots of agricultural metaphors in his teachings – images that the people of his day would have understood and resonated with. The writer of Psalm 65 used what he knew, too: brilliant sunrises and sunsets, golden wheat, green pastures, blooming hillsides, meadows covered in flocks. From that beauty and creativity came the Psalmists’s response: creation sings songs of joy, hillsides blossom with that joy, the valleys dance and shout with joy – all celebrating God’s creativity!
Today, let us pray that God’s Spirit will draw all his children into a deeper relationship with God. Whether we live in a rural area, major metropolitan area, or something in between, may God be tuning our hears to hear his voice, speak his words, and praise him for his amazing goodness.
O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic and glorious and excellent is your name in all the earth! You have displayed your splendor above the heavens. When we see and consider your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have established, what are we that you are mindful of us and care for us? Thank you for all the parts of your Creation that we can experience. Thank you that your Spirit speaks to us through that beauty, and witnesses to your power, majesty, and glory. Today we pray that all God’s children would have spirits tuned in to hear you, speak your words, and praise you. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth! AMEN.
For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense. (Romans 1:20 AMP)
O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth!
You have displayed Your splendor above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
That You might silence the enemy and make the revengeful cease.
When I see and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have established,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8 AMP)