"5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, 6 who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, 7 who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. 8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy."
One of the good things about going through the book of Genesis is a means of praise again as I think of the creation and all God made by His power and voice and how it was for His glory and our benefit.
As I reflect over the flood stories in our world, I marvel at the power of destruction it overtakes. The power of nature reflects the type of God we have, who by His voice brought it all into being.
We give each year toward disasters. One of our church missionaries serves throughout our country and world with Go Global. Storms, volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, droughts, blizzards, and floods are things that make us aware how much at the mercy of God we really are.
It is also God’s power that we observe at sunsets, at moon-lit nights, at the tides, at Northern Lights and viewing majestic mountains. How does God show Himself to those without verbal witness? The Bible says God makes His power and glory known through creation. It is a means of prompting worship, praise, and thanksgiving.
The vastness of the world and all that is in it is a marvel from its heights to its depths. We toured Hawaii for our 10th Anniversary and gazed at the beauty of the Islands, volcanoes and colorful fish in its ocean. On our 25th we went to Alaska and traveled many miles over land that was much uninhabited. Half of the population of Alaska lives in the city of Anchorage, and it wasn’t that big. One road lead North and another South. Ships docked in its ports. The beauty was spectacular!
One of the reasons I like to travel is to see the world in its variety of peoples and cultures and landscapes - another reflection of the creative genius of God.
The Psalmist seemed to enumerate the good gifts of God's providence displayed in His common grace and kindness to mankind. God sets the mountains in their place, stills the seas, visits the earth with water, blesses its springs and clothes the pastures with flocks. He does all this, and He does it all well. As Christ explains, "He makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:45).
Why should God do this? He is under no obligation. Indeed, were we to receive justice for our sins, He would rain fire and brimstone on us as He did with Sodom and Gomorrah long ago. But instead, by His grace and love, He protects His earth as He promised to do in the covenant He made with Noah.
Wherever we go, even to the uttermost parts of the earth, God is revealed in nature. There is cause to rejoice in His goodness. The glorious sunrises and the spectacular sunsets move us to give Him glory. How strange it is that people adore the good sunrises and sunsets and yet ignore Almighty God who makes each dawning and dying day sing its own anthem, with the music of light.
Morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy. One of the creative ways to listen to praise music, as well as meditative music, is with the sounds of nature in the background. Sometimes it includes birds or waterfalls or rain in the background.
This is one of David’s poems he sings with the music provided from nature.
Sing a New Song!
Application: Did you see the Northern Lights last night into daylight this morning? If not, look tonight, God’s work is amazing! Reflect daily on His creations, from a small bird to the spectacular sky.
Prayer: God, even through our struggles, we know You are with us through the storms, Your beauty still shines through. Help us to pause and see Your handiwork surrounding us.
Dale
