Monday Reflection \u2013 June 22, 2020
Bountiful God<\/p>\n\n\n
You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness. Psalm 65:11 \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
Psalm 65 is a beautiful song of praise to God; a song in which all of creation joins in jubilant celebration of the goodness of God. We know not of the occasion of this Psalm; however, because of the tone of thankfulness and praise connected to flocks and grain, many think it was composed for a harvest festival. It begins with David describing a wonderful picture, the idea that praise was waiting to be given to God in Jerusalem. The sense is that when God came to meet his people, he would be received in an atmosphere of praise. But isn\u2019t this the mood and spirit we ought to be in as we anticipate God\u2019s presence in our midst? The reality or anticipation of God\u2019s presence should automatically engender a spirit of jubilant praise, for indeed \u2018In God\u2019s presence there is fulness of joy\u2019 (Psalm 16:11).<\/p>\n\n\n
Interestingly, the word translated \u2018wait\u2019 in verse one comes from a root meaning to be silent. Morgan says, \u201cThis does not mean that there is no praise, but on the contrary that praise is so complete that at first it can find no utterance.\u201d Charles Spurgeon adds that when the soul is most filled with adoring awe, it is not concerned about utterances, but feels most deeply how inadequate are all mortal songs to proclaim the divine goodness. Assuredly, no matter how much we try, our limited fragile words are always inadequate to describe the unlimited, infinite God.<\/p>\n\n\n
David also speaks about God\u2019s invitation to humans, since God is the initiator of the connection between himself and us. Such a connection begins when God chooses and then causes us to come to him that we may dwell in his courts. There we experience satisfaction because of God\u2019s goodness. David also spends time in this Psalm describing the far-reaching greatness of God, evident in creation. As God of the whole world, Yahweh cares for the earth and makes sure it has what it needs. He provides rivers of water and grain for the earth. While the farmer breaks up the ground, ploughs, and sows the seed, God attends to with rain and heat, allows the seeds to grow and prosper, and crowns the year with his bounty. A full and\u00a0plentiful harvest\u00a0is the\u00a0crown\u00a0of the year; and this springs from the unmerited\u00a0goodness\u00a0of God.<\/p>\n\n\n
Creation is happy and joyful before God because of his great power and care for them. While nature makes sweet melody in song to God, humans have a greater cause to give praise to him. We are beneficiaries of the gift of nature, as well as the priviledge of connection with God and the joy of atonement for our sins. We must never fail to give to God the praise and honour that is more than due. Yet, we also demonstrate our gratitude to God by our proper stewardship of his gifts, including our generosity to others. May God be glorified in and through our lives. Amen<\/p>\n\n\n
Jermaine Gibson\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Monday Reflection \u2013 June 22, 2020 Bountiful God You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness. Psalm 65:11 Psalm 65 is a beautiful song of praise to God; a song in which all of creation joins in\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"template":"","watchword_topic":[13],"class_list":["post-245","watchword","type-watchword","status-publish","hentry","watchword_topic-christian-living"],"yoast_head":"\n