The rising and the setting sun testify that God is still with us

By Dean Collins

I We all appreciate a good sunrise or sunset. No matter what is going on in our lives and in the world, something in a sunset or sunrise brings a pause. I have sat or stood watching both sunsets and sunrises more times than I can count. Each one is at once wonderfully different and the same. They are the same because of the rhythms and order God ordained. They are likely different because of atmospheric conditions that alter the light. You will have to ask a real artist to explain what I am only guessing about.

A sunrise and a sunset can stir emotion. These daily landscapes can also silence a moment as we pause to take them in. Reading the Psalms daily can have the same effect. And when we read the Psalms outside, they can bring remarkable comfort and even clarity.

Many of us have favorite psalms like 23, 46, 91, and 100, among others. Some psalms are so familiar that just the mention of the number causes certain phrases to come to mind. Psalm 65 is not one of the familiar ones, but it is a wonderful psalm of praise that also contains images of the beauty of God’s creation and how things will one day look when all has been restored. When you read parts of Psalm 65 you can envision the landscape of the new Heaven and earth: “You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.” Can you see the lush beauty of the hillside and the crops maturing for the harvest?

Praising God forever

Psalm 65 opens with a phrase in which some translators debate what is suggested. Apparently, the Hebrew language is not clear in this instance. Some translations suggest these variances of meaning:

“Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion and to you shall vows be performed.” ESV
“Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. You who answer prayer, to you all people will come.” NIV
“Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion: And unto thee shall the vow be performed.” KJV
“Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God, And also obedience. You hear the prayer in it all. “ MSG

Recently we may have been distracted from the dependability of sunsets by the concerns of war. We grieve as we see images of children, mothers, fathers, and the elderly losing homes and even their lives. Evil men with evil purposes stir fear, harm, and ruin; yet they will not, cannot prevail. They disrupt, even bring death. Their actions impact the whole world, but Psalm 65 reminds us of what has been before and what will come again. And one day forever we will enjoy all of God’s glory, and we will shout praise as we receive all that was promised.

Praising with unspoken words

But whether war disrupts or some personal suffering sometimes leaves us speechless, our God awaits his praise. Our situations can interrupt our worship, but they must not stop our offering of praise to the God of creation and salvation.

I like Eugene Peterson’s rendering of Psalm 65. He opens this way: “Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God, And also obedience. You hear the prayer in it all.“ This interpretation suggests that even when we may feel stuck and words will not come, as we surrender our lives to God in obedience, the silence of unspoken words creates praise to God. He is still in control. He hears even our silent moans. His new creation is stirring and will be fully realized one day.

Whether you are down and discouraged or have found some refuge and comfort in God’s Word or through a fellow traveler, set an alarm and make time to take in a sunset or a sunrise. Take your Bible, read, and notice God is still with us. Humbly bring your repentance and watch as his love washes over you and fills you with hope.

Your time with God’s Word
Psalms‬ ‭65, The Message

Photo by Tadej Skofic from Unsplash

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