Scripture: Psalm 65

Key verse: (8) “Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.”

Reflection: Psalm 65 offers a beautiful litany of praise for God’s providence through creation.  God’s goodness overflows in the majesty of nature.  Nature’s response is joy and praise.  “The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.”  What beautiful imagery!  The Psalmist tells us that those who live on the outskirts of the world stand in awe of God’s majesty, even the dawn and the dusk shout for joy.

What about those of us living in the midst of the mayhem of the city?  I wonder if we are often too distracted from the busyness of a world conjured by our work and our hands to be awed by God’s signs and wonders?  This holiday week, I pray you get some time to “get away from it all.”  Perhaps in getting away we really discover what life is all about.  The beauty of nature, the joy of creation, the providence of God — may we join the chorus of creation in singing God’s praise, for in the words of the Psalmist, “Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.”

Prayer: Open our eyes to see you, O God, in the beauty of this world you have provided for us.  Open our hearts to join in creation’s hymn of joy, that we might know the fullness of your love for the universe.  Amen.

Author: Joe Clifford

[Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved].