The Glory of God
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the works of God’s hands… May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and Redeemer. Psalm 19: 1, 14
I have moments of peace as I look out my window during a day full of Zoom meetings, challenging emails and stress filled phone calls. Buds unfold into leaves, bulbs burst forth into bloom, birdsongs echo as nests are made and the newborns are hatched, fed, and grow. Geese migrating, loons calling as the sun shimmers through the billowy clouds. Even raindrops bring the cleansing freshness of new life. The heavens, indeed, all the natural world shine evidence of the new life of spring. The heavens declare God’s glory and the skies proclaim that handiwork of God!
News headlines often tell a different story. Bad news sells. Sensationalism keeps us atwitter with gossip and conjecture. A new crime to cover, an old war to lament, another politician or billionaire brought low. We know the tale that will be told before it is written. The harmful, hurtful, and despicable has become commonplace.
The glory of God declared, and the folly of humanity exposed. How often do I focus on the latter?! I am a realist and certainly do not want to ignore the needs of a broken world around me. In other Psalms even David lashes out against the evil that he sees around him while his enemies try to bring him down. Yet even in his honest and emotional railings against all that troubles him, the Psalmist invariably comes back to the glory and goodness of God. In Psalm 19 it is as if the writer recognizes an inner call to reflect God’s glory and to not give in to the negative, angry, hateful evil around him.
“May the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord.” I often use that prayer before I deliver a sermon. But I think the intention of God is that I reflect that prayer in my daily living. I can’t control many events in my life either locally, in the church or worldwide, but I can choose what to think about, consume, meditate on and speak about. Perhaps you could join me to focus on what is good in the world and contemplate the glory of God’s life all around. As we become more consumed by God’s glory, then we can reflect the Life to those around us. As we reflect Life, we are more ready to be a healer or peacemaker or justice seeker. I think that makes a difference, don’t you?
Gracious God, help us to truly see your glory and goodness all around us. Then, enable us simply to reflect your life in all that we do and say. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.