From My Perspective - - -
Many of the Psalms were written by David. He was an outdoorsman – a shepherd caring for his flock of sheep – protecting them; leading them beside still waters; bringing them to verdant pastures – seeing to it that they were nourished and preserved from harm. It’s not surprising then to read in the Psalms about God’s handiwork in nature. In Psalm 8:3-9, “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him 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 heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!” In Psalm, 19:1, David writes: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.”
Many of the Psalms were written by David. He was an outdoorsman – a shepherd caring for his flock of sheep – protecting them; leading them beside still waters; bringing them to verdant pastures – seeing to it that they were nourished and preserved from harm. It’s not surprising then to read in the Psalms about God’s handiwork in nature. In Psalm 8:3-9, “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him 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 heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!” In Psalm, 19:1, David writes: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.”
I wonder what the Psalmist would write about today if he was shepherding his sheep in the United States of America. In the given news cycle, we have fires raging in the West, floods impacting mid-America, a section of our country (Louisiana) still not fully restored following the hurricane Katrina (August 2003), Levees collapsing, rising fuel and food costs, the prospect of a famine as crops have been wiped out and some food sources are being used to produce ethanol, drought conditions in the southwest and other parts of the country. Would the Psalmist remind us that God will attempt to get our attention by one means or another. If we ignore His Word and His Gospel, will conditions be permitted to deteriorate until we cry out to Him in repentance on the one hand, and seeking His face on the other?
Max Lucado in his Upwords devotional for today (MaxLucado.com) raises the theme: In God We (Nearly) Trust? He writes about a beautiful day and a cruise on a friend’s boat. All is going well until the winds start blowing and a storm begins – and they are totally dependent on their friend – the Captain of their boat. He applies that experience to life and asks: “Does God know what he is doing? Can he get us out? Why does He allow the storm? Can you say about God… I know God knows what’s best. I know I don’t. I know He cares. Such words come easily when the water is calm. But when you’re looking at a wrecked car or a suspicious-looking mole, when war breaks out or thieves break in, do you trust him? In regard to God and life… look toward the Captain and resolve - he knows what’s best.”
I always find comfort and reassurance in the words of the Hymn based on Mark 4:35 through 39 - - -
Master, the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o’ershadowed with blackness, No shelter or help is nigh;
Carest Thou not that we perish? How canst Thou lie asleep,
When each moment so madly is threatening A grave in the angry deep?
RefrainThe sky is o’ershadowed with blackness, No shelter or help is nigh;
Carest Thou not that we perish? How canst Thou lie asleep,
When each moment so madly is threatening A grave in the angry deep?
The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will, Peace, be still!
Whether the wrath of the storm tossed sea, Or demons or men, or whatever it be
No waters can swallow the ship where lies The Master of ocean, and earth, and skies;
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will, Peace, be still! Peace, be still!
No waters can swallow the ship where lies The Master of ocean, and earth, and skies;
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will, Peace, be still! Peace, be still!
Think about this with me - - -
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