Devotions

20230429

mountain irrigation

Psalm 104:10-13 (JDV)

Psalm 104:10 He causes the springs to gush into the valleys; they flow between the mountains.
Psalm 104:11 They supply water for every wild animal; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Psalm 104:12 The birds of the sky settle down beside the springs; they make their voices heard among the foliage.
Psalm 104:13 He waters the mountains from his palace; the land is satisfied by the fruit that you have made.

When doing my long-distance hike in 2018, I was surprised to find so many water sources in the mountains. It seemed to me so odd that no matter how far I went, I would regularly encounter a spring, stream, pond, or lake. I was grateful because those were my sources of resupply for water. Without them, my hike would be impossible.

But I knew that the water sources were not there just for hikers. There was an entire system of animal life that those water sources were supplying. Like the poet here, I imagine the birds and other creatures sounding out in praise for their provider.

20230428

A place for the mountains

Psalm 104:5-9 (JDV)

Psalm 104:5 He established the land on its foundations; it will never be shaken.
Psalm 104:6 You covered it with the deep as if it were a garment; the water stood above the mountains.
Psalm 104:7 At your rebuke the water fled; at the sound of your thunder it hurried away —
Psalm 104:8 mountains rose and valleys sank –  to the place you established for them.
Psalm 104:9 You set a boundary they cannot cross; they will never cover the land again.

I have an app on my phone that I can use to identify mountains. All I have to do is take a photo, and the app searches its database and identifies the mountains in the photo.

The app works because mountains don’t shape-shift. They don’t change forms or move to new locations. God has established a place for them, and they tend to stay there.

I like that about the Lord. He is not constantly changing the furniture in his living room. We can depend on some things being there because he is faithful.

20230427

he wears the universe

Psalm 104:1-4 (JDV)

Psalm 104:1 My throat, bless Yahveh! Yahveh my God, you are very great; you are clothed with majesty and splendor.
Psalm 104:2 He wraps himself in light as if it were a robe, spreading out the sky like a canopy,
Psalm 104:3 laying the beams of his palace on the waters above, making the clouds his chariot, walking on the wings of the wind,
Psalm 104:4 and making the winds his agents, flames of fire his servants.

In my systematic theology, I suggested that the universe is like a body for God. It can serve as visible evidence of his existence. He uses the world we see to prove his existence. One thing this implies is that we should not pollute or exploit this world.

The poet uses a similar analogy here.  He portrays God as wearing the elements of the natural world — using them for his divine purposes. He displays his power by demonstrating their powers.

He uses the power of light, wind, and fire to show us that he is there, and not silent.

20230426

mimic the mighty

Psalm 103:20-22 (JDV)

Psalm 103:20 Bless Yahveh, all his agents of great strength, who do his word, obedient to his command.
Psalm 103:21 Bless Yahveh, all his armies, his servants who do his will.
Psalm 103:22 Bless Yahveh, all the things he has made in all the places where he rules. My throat, bless Yahveh!

This passage calls on three mighty groups to bless the creator: his angelic agents, the armies at his command, and all his creatures and creations. But all three of these groups are described as already blessing God with their obedience to him. It remains for me — my throat — to follow their lead. Wouldn’t it be wise for me to look at all this obedience and do the same?