SOAP Journal 03-19-2008 (Psalm 65:11-13)

Scripture:

Psalm 65:11-13 You crown the year with your good blessings, and you leave abundance in your wake. The pastures in the wilderness glisten with moisture, and the hills are clothed with joy. The meadows are clothed with sheep, and the valleys are covered with grain. They shout joyfully, yes, they sing.

Observation:

The idyllic picture of abundance is pleasant to imagine. But it's not just imagination; it's a real scene of God's blessing - annual, perennial. Glistening pastures, joyful hills, sheep-covered meadows and valleys yielding bounties of grain are all in joy - they shout and sing.

Application:

It's not just that I need spring in the middle of March, the mud month in New England. I need a reminder of God's faithfulness, His lovingkindness and sustaining blessing year in and year out. Getting caught up in the entrapments of this life - things that men say are important - can utterly obliterate the scene of overall blessing. Those blessings need to be taken inventory of, they need counting, they need to be the source of praise. And all creation sings, not just me, the onlooker. The sentiment and expression of joy are an integral part of the beautiful scene.

Prayer:

Father, show me Your goodness in the midst of the muck. And not just for me, but for all your people, make this a known, beloved scene, for it speaks deep faith and assurance to our souls. In Jesus' name.