God is Great and Worthy to be Praised

 

Almost everyone will recognize the beautiful red, male Cardinal pictured above. They are stunningly beautiful representatives of the glory of God's creation. Almost any time of any day, you can stand around my bird feeders and soon you will see beautiful, living examples of this bird, and the less brightly colored female partners.

Early this morning I was on a "phone call prayer meeting" of Point people. Someone was outside and the chorus of music being sung by birds was amazing. Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, I was with my friend Ron Lewis. We were videoing a conversation about Psalm 130 to be used for a virtual worship service on this coming Sunday, 29 March.  When I listened to the recording - the birds were in the background praising God!

That got the "Wendel Berry in me" to thinking. What if each of us, early in the morning, listened to the birds? But not just listen, what if we picked out our favorite "phrase, or tune?" In our prayer meeting this morning, the birds were magnificent. If you happen to visit the Spring Road Christian Church virtual worship service this Sunday, you will hear a mighty chorus of God's creatures shouting out.

It is mid-day at my house. I just came inside. I've been listening. It is an incredible chorus of music going on right now.

In my personal Bible reading this morning, I finished a project of reading five psalms and one chapter of Proverbs per day. (Email me and I'll send you a plan!) Psalm 148 was among "the five psalms." Listen to some of its words:

Praise the Lord from the earth,

sea monsters and all deeps;

fire and hail, snow and clouds;

storm wind, fulfilling His word;

Mountains and all hills;

fruit trees and all cedars;

beasts and all cattle;

creeping things and winged fowl;

kings of the earth and all peoples;

princes and all jusges of the earth;

both young men and virgins; old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for his name aloen is exalted;

His glory is above earth and heaven."

Psalm 148:7-13

Did you see that phrase in bold print above? "And winged fowl." What if all that music I hear outside is in fact "praising the Lord?"

Here is a little spiritual exercise we can all do in these difficult times that might help us gain perspective.  Pick a sound from the birds. Using your own creative language skills, interpret it to mean "God is great, and worthy to be praised." Don't worry about technicalities, you are creating the definitive dictionary for that particular bird language!

Now . . . every time you walk outside and hear one of God's creatures make that sound, just say "Amen! God is great and worthy to be praised." Psalm 148 declares "Praise the Lord from the earth . . ." and then goes to great length to describe how that happens - including "winged fowl." 

Psalm 19 says, "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands." (19:1) Psalm 24 proclaims "The earth is the Lord's and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it." Romans 8:19, in one of the best paragraphs Paul ever wrote, says "For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the children of God." 

In my growing up years, I don't think my home church ever missed a Sunday of singing "The Doxology." Here are its words:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above the heavenly hosts,

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Amen.

The "winged fowl" seem to have gotten that message pretty well. Maybe we need to join our voices with their voices and proliaim "God is great, and worthy to be praised."

By the way, the sound I have picked - no registered trademark on the choice - is the male Cardinal. It is so distinct. It sounds a bit like the English word "Cheer." Seems kind of appropriate for a Cardinal to be declaring "God is great and worthy to be praised!"