Friday 01 February 2008

Background

Appreciating the beauty of God's creation in the everyday hustleand bustle of life can be a real challenge, especially in thesedark and cold winter months. But this is exactly what this psalm istrying to get us to do. It's not just saying "Look at creation,isn't it pretty?" The images used burst from the page - the sun islike a "strong man, running his course with joy" and the whole ofcreation cries out God's glory in a language that is beyondwords.

We get so used to the fact of our existence on this planet,rocketing through space, sustaining more than 1.5 million differentspecies. How easily we forget how amazing it is to be a part ofsomething so intricate, so colourful and so full of life.

But for the psalmist, that's only half the story. There issomething else that matches creation's beauty, something else madeby God and testifying to God's glory - the Law. For Jews, 'Law'encompasses a whole host of meanings ranging from the first fivebooks of the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament), tomoral commandments, to the special relationship between God andGod's chosen people.

Here, the focus is on the Law as a way of 'right living' - guidancefrom God that revives our souls, makes us wise, uplifts our heartsand keeps our vision clear.

And what is our role in all of this, as part of creation and boundby God's Law in our special relationship with God? Our thoughts andour words should honour God. How do we know how to do that? God hasgiven us creation and Law, to show us what God is like.

To Ponder

What do you think of when you hear the word'Law'? Is it a positive or a negative word to you? Why?

Why does God give us rules and guidance forliving? Is it simply a matter of avoiding sin, or are there otherbenefits too? What might these be?

Take five minutes today just to look around youat creation - at other human beings. What does this show you aboutwhat God is like?