Consider the Heavens

Consider the Heavens

O Lord, our Lord,

how excellent is Your name in all the earth.

You have set Your glory above the heavens!

When I consider Your heavens,

the moon and stars which You have ordained,

what is man, that You are mindful of him,

and the son of man, that You visit him?

Psalm 8:1, 3-4

When I finished work one evening last week, the dusk had not as yet descended into darkness.  There was still time to grab a shovel and do a little more yard work.  Dusk is a beautiful time of day – my favorite hour during the warmer months.  The blazing sun has dropped below the horizon, and the landscape is bathed in a gentle, muted illumination that slowly gives way to darkness. 

When I read Psalm 8, I can just see David as he stood outside, surrounded by the beauty of earth and the glories of the heavens.  He looked at the vast landscape below and the canopy of stars overhead, and marveled that the One who created such astounding splendor could be concerned about his life, his joys, his sorrows.  We are also a creation of God's hand, an expression of His love, the product of His heart.  It is little wonder that we love being outdoors – we were created to be together.

Wherever you are this morning in God’s great panoply of nature, take just a moment to look at the beauty of His creation and marvel at the gift we have been given.  Then, whisper a little “Thank You, Lord.”  It will warm His heart as well as yours.

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I sing the mighty power of God that made the mountains rise.

That spread the flowing seas abroad and built the lofty skies.

I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day.

The moon shines full at His command, and all the stars obey.

There’s not a plant nor flower below, but makes Thy glories known,

And clouds arise and tempests blow by order from Thy throne.

While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care,

And everywhere that we can be, thou, God, art present there.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 152