Psalm 65

The prose of Psalm 65 evidences a world view summarized by a line in the United Church of Canada’s Affirmation of Faith: “We believe in God: who has created and is creating.” The psalmist is affirming his faith that God is the Creator of heaven and earth, and God is Master of His creation. The earth and its inhabitants were not created and then left to their own devices; God is actively engaged in the affairs of humankind, and all creation, to bring about God’s complete redemption of all He has created.

This world view calls the church to proactively work to establish God’s Kingdom on earth. For many generations the people of God embraced this call, as evidenced by the church taking responsibility for building the first hospitals, orphanages, schools and colleges. In the USA 106 of the first 108 colleges were founded by Christians. This list of colleges and universities includes Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Dartmouth and the University of Pennsylvania.

John Muir is often called “The Father of Our National Park System” because of his efforts to establish Yosemite National Park, as well as the creation of Grand Canyon and Mt. Rainier National Parks. He was motivated by a passion to preserve these lands so that all people could visit these majestic areas and meditate upon the wonders of God’s great creation.

For many years the church has been retreating from the public sector and making the Christian faith a matter of personal and private piety. However, this position denies our Biblical heritage. After contemplating Psalm 65, it would be good to meditate on the Apostle Paul’s exquisite proclamation of the supremacy of Jesus Christ:

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

    He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

 for through him God created everything

    in the heavenly realms and on earth.

He made the things we can see

    and the things we can’t see—

such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.

    Everything was created through him and for him.

 He existed before anything else,

    and he holds all creation together.

 Christ is also the head of the church,

    which is his body.

He is the beginning,

    supreme over all who rise from the dead.

    So he is first in everything.

 For God in all his fullness

    was pleased to live in Christ,

 and through him God reconciled

    everything to himself.

He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth

    by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”

Colossians 1:15-20

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading of the Psalms

 attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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Reading for July 6, 2012            Psalm 66