THIS SERIES: THE RESTORATIVE POWER OF CREATIONIt's August 1st on Tuesday, the sun is shining (in between showers), and the fields are golden brown. The end of Psalm 65 was written for August… You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing. [Psalm 65:11-13] The singing fields are intriguing--I wonder if we got really quiet inside, and really listened, would we be able to hear them...? The Bible is full of musical references; from angelic choirs to jubilant forests, it seems the Lord intended His creation to be filled with joyful sound: Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; Make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn-- shout for joy before the LORD, the King. Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; Let them sing before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity. [Psalm 98:4-9] Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. [Psalm 96:12] Sing for joy, you heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, you earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, He displays His glory in Israel. [Isaiah 44:23] Let’s take time to wonder and worship this week. Let's listen with our spirits to creation's song... And let's join in this great anthem of praise! We can learn from the crofters living in the Scottish islands over a century ago: My mother would be asking us to sing our morning song to God down in the back-house, as Mary's lark was singing it up in the clouds, and as Christ’s mavis was singing it in yonder tree, giving glory to the God of the creatures for the repose of the night, for the light of the day, and for the joy of life. She would tell us that every creature on the earth here below, and in the ocean beneath, and in the air above, was giving glory to the great God of the creatures and the worlds, of the virtues and of the blessings, and would we be dumb? Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His splendour is above the earth and the heavens. [Psalm 148:7 -13] And there is another song being sung, a song straight from heaven, one which resounds above them all, a song which pours over us like warm oil. It's a song just for you and me. It's the Father's song of love: The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet [you] with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." [Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV] Matt Redman expresses it beautifully: Let’s worship Him… PLEASE NOTE: In order for me to have a few weeks break, this will be the last blog post until the end of September. Until then, do take the opportunity to explore the other resources on the site. God bless you all, Kate W @ Rhythms of Grace.
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