Psalm 96 “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy…” vss. 11-12
Humans have wandered this earth for only a brief portion of its history and yet we presume to think of ourselves as the center of creation. We’ve developed religions, invented gods, and written a history that glorifies our achievements, while treating the rest of creation as an afterthought. The psalmist has a different perspective and understands God as the Lord and Maker of all things. In his world God has an intimate connection to everything that exists; heavens, sea, earth, and all that fills them. And when God acts, all things rejoice, exult, and give thanks. Even all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Somewhere along the line, followers of Jesus have figured this out, and have learned to give creation its due. In these last weeks we’ve watched as the Geminid meteor shower has made the night sky come alive, and last night, marveled at the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, what some call the “Christmas Star.” These events set the stage for our Christmas celebrations and remind us that the Christ is the glory of all creation. Many have even brought trees of the forest to stand in their homes to accompany their family festivities. The decorated boughs and beautiful ornaments testify to the joy of the Lord’s coming, a time of rejoicing for all the earth.
Thought for the Day: What memories are triggered by Christmas trees?
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