Friday, May 21, 2010

God’s Incomprehensible Dominion – Psalm 104


“I will sing to the Lord all my life;

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

May my meditation be pleasing to him,

as I rejoice in the Lord.”

~Psalm 104:33-34 (NIV).

Such a worshipful psalm we have right here. It lauds the wonderful knowledge of God’s creative artistry. He is creator and maintainer of his creation—the heavenly Gardener.

Much like the response of God in Job 38–41 where God presents the marvellous scope of his creative and redemptive works, this psalm is a mini-compendium of God’s utter and incomprehensible dominion over all creation—nothing barred or excepted.

Imagining the psalmist chewing on a dandelion stem, lying under the shade of a sun-drenched tree on a warm spring day... musing as they do... conjuring images of lions, wind and flames, birds and grass, to name but a few; this is the image I’m presented with.

What science explains this God?

We marvel at science and yet science is merely a reflection of truth pointing us to this God. And yet, science—as an explanation—is so totally inept. It cannot compete; it lags behind and the scientist—the entire concept of science—is forever challenged.

We fix our thoughts and our hearts on just one enormous aspect of this creative genius and we’re quickly mobbed, swamped for words and meaning—swept up in a nuisance of marvellous confusion. Standing amazed and in dumbstruck awe we can but smile.

The creative order is so completely perfect—even countering absolutely for the travesty of the fall of humankind; the redemptive provision of the Son, Jesus.

The voices of our souls cry out:

“How many are your works, O Lord!

In wisdom you made them all;

The earth is full of your creatures.”

~Psalm 104:24 (NIV).

The Lord Made Them All!

And when last comes to final last, we can also see...

God made every living creature, including every human being—even those we detest. He made them and he loves them. All of them. Each one the same value.

He has not condemned what he has made. Only via our response (or lack thereof) do we condemn ourselves. Through not wanting God we get what we want. On the other hand, those of God’s creation who do want him—his willing human beings—will get their wish.

Psalm 104 is neatly linked with the previous one; both hold God’s kingship up for all to admire.

When we consider all these things in their proper place we cannot help but see God. His love reveals our former blindness to us.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul.”

© 2010 S. J. Wickham.

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