Psalm 104:24-34, 35b (NRSV)
Read Psalm 104:24-34, 35b on biblegateway.com
Verse 24O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
Verse 25Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great.
Verse 26There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.
Verse 27These all look to you to give them their food in due season;
Verse 28when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
Verse 29When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
Verse 30When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.
Verse 31May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works-
Verse 32who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke.
Verse 33I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
Verse 34May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
Verse 35Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!
Devotion
The two of us stood on the large boulder. The mountain stream flowed nearby, the grass lush, flowers in bloom and majestic peaks on all sides. We turned in a full circle in order to take in the wonder and beauty of God's creation. Then, he spoke these words, "Good show, God. Good show." I will not forget his song of praise to God and how we rejoiced that morning.
We could have chosen to read Psalm 104 or one of the other praise, creation psalms. They would also have been very appropriate. In a moment of wild abandon, perhaps one of us could have shouted, "Praise the Lord."
Today, look around. See what the breath of God has created and what the open hand of God has provided. Enjoy the show.
Prayer
O God, when you open your hand, I am filled with good things. Open my mouth and I will sing your praises as long as I live. Amen.