A murky, yellow-tinged blackness hung low over the city. He recollected that stars, and sunrises and sunsets, and untainted air, and silence were not for city dwellers.”
–Zane Grey (The Call of the Canyon)
“You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The rivers of God will not run dry; they provide a bountiful harvest of grains, for you have ordered it so.”
“You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The rivers of God will not run dry; they provide a bountiful harvest of grains, for you have ordered it so.”
–Psalm 65:9 (NLT)
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We live in a strange, confused, and chaotic world. The foundations of culture are being challenged; the postmodernists are doing their best to deconstruct society. There is a major attempt to control the narrative–the history, the stories, the truths–of this nation. He who controls the thoughts and the stories controls the culture. Therefore, you can see why there is such a fight.
The world is becoming more and more urbanized, therefore, making it easier to come under the control of the “elite.” There are some hardy people who are “homesteading” going back to nature if you please and this is contrary to the will of those in power. These individuals are refusing the collectivism offered to them. Is it becoming harder and harder to appreciate the work of our Creator. We do not take real notice of the seasons and what they bring to us. Some will leave the city long enough to take a look at God’s great creation. They will ooh and ahhh at what they see, but really do they go beyond that? Flannery O’Connor wrote, “For me, the visible universe is a reflection of the invisible universe.” Now, don’t worry, I am not getting all “New-Agey” on you. But to look upon God’s creation, and for some to live in it, there is something definitely beyond the physical realm.
People long for nature. If you don’t think so why do they flock to the beach or go to the mountains? They want to stay in their cars, or go “glamping.” We purchase a loaf of bread without thinking of God who provided the means for it. I was talking the other day with a friend about the weather. We both agreed that in the “old days” we just went in spite of the weather, come what may. I know, today’s generations would say that was foolish, that we should be prepared. To a point I agree, but once you know the weather, and once you have your plans, why keep going back to look?
It’s Monday, and you are probably wondering how all of what I have written relates to the Psalms. If you have been following along on Monday, or if you have taken the time to read the Psalms you will notice that the writers were very interested in nature. Let me give you a few to ponder from the New Living Translation.
“The voice of the LORD splits the mighty cedars; the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon.” –29:5
“The voice of the LORD twists mighty oaks and strips the forests bare. In his Temple everyone shouts, ‘Glory!'” –29:9
“The mountains were covered with our shade; the mighty cedars were covered with our branches.” –52:8
“But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.” –92:12
“Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise before the Lord! For the LORD is coming!” –96:12-13
Notice that these verses have one thing in common besides nature–trees and forests (in fact, there are over three hundred references in the Bible to trees alone). The writers of the Psalms speak of rivers clapping “their hands in glee” (98:8). The hillsides blossom with joy (65:13). The Psalms remind us that it is God that supplies food for ourselves and our livestock.
Take time this week to praise God for His marvelous nature. For the colors, for the food, for bring beauty. Praise Him when you see the billows roll and crash upon the rocks at the seaside. Praise Him if you look over some grand mountain vista in awe of the majesty before you. Take a bite of bread and thank Him for the grain that He allows to grow.
“Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.”
–unknown
————————————
We live in a strange, confused, and chaotic world. The foundations of culture are being challenged; the postmodernists are doing their best to deconstruct society. There is a major attempt to control the narrative–the history, the stories, the truths–of this nation. He who controls the thoughts and the stories controls the culture. Therefore, you can see why there is such a fight.
The world is becoming more and more urbanized, therefore, making it easier to come under the control of the “elite.” There are some hardy people who are “homesteading” going back to nature if you please and this is contrary to the will of those in power. These individuals are refusing the collectivism offered to them. Is it becoming harder and harder to appreciate the work of our Creator. We do not take real notice of the seasons and what they bring to us. Some will leave the city long enough to take a look at God’s great creation. They will ooh and ahhh at what they see, but really do they go beyond that? Flannery O’Connor wrote, “For me, the visible universe is a reflection of the invisible universe.” Now, don’t worry, I am not getting all “New-Agey” on you. But to look upon God’s creation, and for some to live in it, there is something definitely beyond the physical realm.
People long for nature. If you don’t think so why do they flock to the beach or go to the mountains? They want to stay in their cars, or go “glamping.” We purchase a loaf of bread without thinking of God who provided the means for it. I was talking the other day with a friend about the weather. We both agreed that in the “old days” we just went in spite of the weather, come what may. I know, today’s generations would say that was foolish, that we should be prepared. To a point I agree, but once you know the weather, and once you have your plans, why keep going back to look?
It’s Monday, and you are probably wondering how all of what I have written relates to the Psalms. If you have been following along on Monday, or if you have taken the time to read the Psalms you will notice that the writers were very interested in nature. Let me give you a few to ponder from the New Living Translation.
“The voice of the LORD splits the mighty cedars; the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon.” –29:5
“The voice of the LORD twists mighty oaks and strips the forests bare. In his Temple everyone shouts, ‘Glory!'” –29:9
“The mountains were covered with our shade; the mighty cedars were covered with our branches.” –52:8
“But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.” –92:12
“Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise before the Lord! For the LORD is coming!” –96:12-13
Notice that these verses have one thing in common besides nature–trees and forests (in fact, there are over three hundred references in the Bible to trees alone). The writers of the Psalms speak of rivers clapping “their hands in glee” (98:8). The hillsides blossom with joy (65:13). The Psalms remind us that it is God that supplies food for ourselves and our livestock.
Take time this week to praise God for His marvelous nature. For the colors, for the food, for bring beauty. Praise Him when you see the billows roll and crash upon the rocks at the seaside. Praise Him if you look over some grand mountain vista in awe of the majesty before you. Take a bite of bread and thank Him for the grain that He allows to grow.
“Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.”
–unknown