Psalm 147

Part of the power of a psalm is that it takes the human perspective and lifts it to God. Another part of the power of a psalm is that it takes God's perspective and puts it before people. This psalm is the latter.

Many things we take for granted today- weather is one of them. With all of our complicated understanding of weather, we assume that weather is a delicate machine that works because there are laws governing it and influences that have more or less effect. This psalm understands weather as having its source in God.

We all have worldviews that guide (if not control) our belief systems in the world. Your political affiliation, whether you wear a bike helmet or what you call a "relaxing day" all come from your worldview. Now let's be honest about those worldviews- that most of them could exist without the God of the Bible.

Most of us depend on God for moral authority. In fact, I recently read an article that made the (I believe incorrect) claim that if we don't depend on God for moral authority, the world will collapse. But that's as far as it goes. The rest of the world is a machine- and a fairly decent one at that. It may have been created and set into motion by God, but that's where it goes. History is also in God's control, but God mostly lets the (economic and political) rules take over.

Read Psalm 147 again and let it explode your view of God's participation in the world (or the world's participation in God, whichever works). God is the one who directs the weather, who sustains and throws down, who sends His commands to the ground. Now let's consider our participation with God- pray for the humble, for the weather, for sustenance. Give us, and all, each day our daily bread.