Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Let the Creation Rejoice

Psalm 98:4-9

4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.  With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.  Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it. Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

Every morning for the last five months, I have been awakened by a wood pecker bird.  Daily the wood pecker hammers the lamp pole in front of my house. My neighbors and I have had conversations regarding its faithfulness to the pole.  The bird has become the alarm clock in our cul-de-sac. The Wood Pecker issues the “call to praise”. His pecking echoes throughout the neighborhood. Our wood pecker taught me that praise is not limited to human beings.

The psalmist offer praise with his mouth and instruments. But verses 7-9 the earth makes a joyful noise in many different ways. God has to enjoy the birds as they sing and play. It is nothing like waking up in an ocean side room in the morning, watching the sun praising God and lying down at night listening the tides rush in. Now that is some good praise. These verse inform us that our praise is not isolated from the rest of creation

Prayer

Lord create in us a spirit of joy. Open our eyes to the praise of the earth. Usher in a new spirit within us. Amen

The Reverend Betty A. Brown