Listen

But your loyal love, Lord, extends to the skies; your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

Your righteousness is like the strongest mountains; your justice is like the deepest sea. Lord, you save both humans and animals.

Your faithful love is priceless, God! Humanity finds refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the bounty of your house; you let them drink from your river of pure joy.

Within you is the spring of life. In your light, we see light.

Psalm 36:5-9

Think

The sky, the clouds, strong mountains, and deep sea… The author of Psalm 36 uses elements of nature to convey the magnitude of God’s love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice. This outburst of praise for God utilizes things anyone can see but that no person in the ancient world could visit. It was a way of saying that God’s love, God’s willingness and ability to keep God’s promises, God’s holiness, and God’s care for the vulnerable are beyond our human ability.

But God’s loftiness does not separate God from us. God saves God’s creation, humans and animals. God provides refuge and joy. God gives life. The psalmist says, “In your light, we see light.” With God, we see what is good and true and life-giving.

Psalm 36 is filled with praise for God drawn from the experience of the author and the Israelite people. I wonder what praise you would offer God today. What metaphors capture your experience, or your church’s or family’s experience, with God?

Jay Kieve

Pray

Dear God, I praise you for your great love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice.

In your light, let me see all the light around me.

Amen.

Go

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.

from “What Wondrous Love Is This,” anonymous (ca. 1811)