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“Summertime and the livin’ is easy…” goes the famous lyrics from Gershwin’s folk opera Porgy and Bess. Hopefully, those lyrics have a measure of truth for all of us. Summer does bring more opportunities to be outdoors enjoying God’s great creation.
The psalmists possibly spent a great deal of time in the open air, which explains why they often reflected on the majesty of God as revealed in nature. For the month of June, let’s stroll with them through the Psalms, reflecting on their portrayal of the Sovereign Lord.
In my childhood in the country, before air conditioning or even high-speed fans, hot summer evenings frequently drove our family outdoors. Some of us sat in the yard swing; others lay on quilts on the grass, hoping some breeze would bring relief from the heat.
Together we watched the magnificent Kansas sunsets fade away; clear views of the expansive night sky followed. Because we were away from the distraction of city lights, we could clearly see the brilliantly shining stars.
When I read Psalm 8, I remember those nights and relate to what David might have felt as he wrote:
When I consider 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, the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:3,4, NIV).
As David gazed into the heavens, he viewed them as the creation of the Sovereign God who established order in the universe. He was aware both of the greatness of God and His compassionate care for mankind. This knowledge filled him with awe so he declared:
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:9, NIV).
It was not only at nighttime that David had this sense of wonder, but in daytime as well. In Psalm 19, he views the pattern of the sun in full daylight and pens:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge (Psalm 19:1,2, NIV).
In the next verses David describes the rhythmic pattern of the sun universally declaring the glory of the Lord. While many other ancient near-Easterners worshiped the sun as a god, he saw beyond the sun to the God who created it.
As David pondered the revelation of God in nature, his mind moved easily to the law of the Lord, another way God had revealed himself. He concludes this meditation in that same sense of humility he had in Psalm 8, saying:
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14, NIV).
When David gazed at the heavens, he saw the majesty of God. He observed the heavenly bodies fulfilling the purposes for which God had designed them. His humble prayer was that in the same manner he, too, would be as pleasing to God.
Whether your summer plans take you to exotic vacation places or to quiet times in your own backyard, take a few moments to gaze into the heavens.
In what way do the heavens declare the glory of God to you personally?
Does the magnitude of God’s creation make you feel insignificant? Does knowing that he calls every star by name help you believe He knows your name, too?
Does the order evident in the universe suggest to you that God has purpose for your life?
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