In the Psalms “there’s a whole lot of blessin’ goin’ on,” both down to man from God and up to God from man. In these longer psalms, I can sometimes lose the flow; but there are many stopping places along the way for reflection – like the scenic places in the mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway where travelers can pull off & enjoy the beauty of the view. In every strophe of this psalm, there is a scenic view to stop and contemplate. In the very first verse, I am given the reason to bless/praise/speak well of God: “You are very great!” (What a scenic view!) “Clothed with splendor & majesty” and covered with light, Yahweh makes heaven his dwelling place (“tent”) (2). What he made in the heavens serves his purpose and does his bidding (3-4). Here his works of creation and re-creation through the catastrophic flood are summarized to magnify this God, who provided for wild donkeys (11), birds (12), livestock and humans (14-15). Trees provide homes for birds & mountains for rock badgers (16-18). God made moon & sun for a purpose (19), again for animals & humans alike (19-23). In wisdom Yahweh made all this diverse handiwork. “The earth is full of [his] creatures” (24). They are not the product of eons of time and chance. Even God’s creatures look to him for everything good (27-28), and so should I! I love the way the psalm ends: “May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works … (31). Today I join the psalmist in singing to Yahweh “as long as I live; I WILL SING PRAISE to my God while I have being” (31). More than anything else I pray that what I think about today (“my meditation”) will be pleasing to him, “for I rejoice in the LORD” (34). Today I “bless the LORD!” Yes, I “praise the LORD!” (35). Please join me. He is so worthy of all our praise.
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