There are two readings for today.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 96
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. [Psalm 96:12]
This is a call for everyone and everything to praise God for His greatness and goodness.
Sing, proclaim, declare, ascribe, worship, rejoice, resound… do you get the picture.
And not just the people, the creation itself, the heavens, the earth, the sea, the fields, the trees.
Why would inanimate objects want to praise the Lord?
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. [Romans 8:19]
The whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” [Luke 19:37-40]
When the disciples are singing God’s praise because of Jesus, and the religious leaders wants to stop them, Jesus declares that even the stones want to cry out in praise.
Is this just hyperbole, stating things in the extreme to make a point?
Or is it not true that the creation itself feels and suffers and groans and longs for freedom, longs to be released from the misery that we have imposed on it.
I can’t answer this with certainty, but I can imagine that the creation does experience the misery of sin, and longs to be free.
God has created a marvelous universe, and there is a dynamic, living character to it.
What some people call ‘mother nature’, I call the living planet, infused with the life and glory of God, bringing glory to God, longing to be free from the burden of sin.
The next time you see a bird soaring, or an iceberg drifting, or a flower opening, or a tree blooming, or waving in the wind, or feel the wind yourself, and the warmth of the sun, or the refreshing coolness of the water as you swim, think of the life of God breathed into this world.
Think of the heavens that declare the glory of God; think of the stones that are crying out the praises of their Maker.
And join in with them.
Wave your arms, as the trees wave their branches; sing your songs as the wind wails in wonder.
Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. [Psalm 96:13]
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to see the creation as it praises You, and help me to join in!