Psalm 104:24-34, 35b (NRSV)
Read Psalm 104:24-34, 35b on biblegateway.com
Verse 24O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
Verse 25Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great.
Verse 26There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.
Verse 27These all look to you to give them their food in due season;
Verse 28when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
Verse 29When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
Verse 30When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.
Verse 31May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works-
Verse 32who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke.
Verse 33I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
Verse 34May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
Verse 35Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!
Devotion
An eye-catching sunset can cause us to pause from our worldly attentions to focus on the nature of the divine as our knees seem to weaken at such an awe-inspiring sight. The One who gives breath also takes our breath away as the beauty of the sky transforms second by second. We stand humbled before the activity of the Lord’s creation of such an awe-inspiring sight, even when no one else in the parking lot seemingly has time for such a divine moment.
A car pulls into the parking space right next to you and, as the occupants get out, you are moved by the Spirit to point out the beauty the Lord is giving at the moment. It doesn’t matter the response because you are being you as you join the psalmist: “I will give praise to my God while I have being.” You share good news not because you’ve been trained to do so; you share this response because this is who you are, who God created, who has filled you with eternal breath to witness to the Lord and the Lord’s hope among us.
Prayer
God of Grace, give us eyes to see and give us words to clearly express your divine nature at work in this world, in humanity, and in our lives. May your Spirit speak through the witness of your faithful. Amen.