May 23, 2014: Smiles and Praise

Reading:  Psalm 104:24-34 (Click to read text)          

Reflection:
Nobody did Psalm 104.  We all knew it was coming by listening to older classmates.  To pass our Old Testament final in seminary we would have to write a psalm from memory.  Psalm 23 was excluded and, as I said, nobody chose Psalm 104.  It is 35 verses long!  Over the years it has become one of my favorites and today we have the opportunity to look at 11 verses which are an alternate text for Day 5 of Camp Mount Luther’s curriculum for this summer. It is a psalm that praises the creator, in fact, it reads very much like a creation tradition in addition to the two we have in Genesis.  It is worth reading in its entirety sometime today.  I’d like to share two translations of verse 26.

Ships plow those waters, and Leviathan, your pet dragon, romps in them.  (MSG)

And there are the ships, as well as Leviathan, the monster you created to splash in the sea.  (CEV)

That’s just so we can have at least one smile in our day.  A harmless monster of some sort which God creates for fun.  I’m glad my creator is like that.  (Reminds me of a glorious day of whale watching off Cape Cod.)  The reason the psalm is a text for the curriculum on the day we study Pentecost is verse 30:

When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.

God’s constant creating, recreating and renewal of all existence is a recurring theme in scripture.  What might you see, hear, smell, taste, touch today that makes you rejoice, smile and give God thanks for stirring among us renewing life?  --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff.

Closing:  Don’t forget to read Psalm 104 before you go to bed tonight!