Psalm 24 – The Earth
It’s spring here in Michigan. Time to get outside, rake lawns, tend to gardens. In other words, it’s a great time to get down and dirty with our God, as you reflect on Psalm 24 – the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it!
Garden Earth
We live on planet Earth, Mother Earth. As such we are caretakers of this earth. In the book of Genesis, God gave Adam the earth and instructed him to take care of it: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (2:15) Gardens are often mentioned in Scripture. They are a place of paradise and creation (Eden); suffering and redemption (Gethsemane); protection and growth (Is. 58:11); and spiritual imagery (Song of Songs). Other spiritual writers depict gardens as places for spiritual growth.
A week ago, I spent four hours pulling weeds that had overgrown a part of my lawn. I paid a price for this in terms of aching muscles, but it was worth it. There is something about digging in the earth. Microbes found in the earth are good for us. It’s good to be out in nature, getting down and dirty with God!
An article in US News lists these five benefits of gardening: boosts immune system, provides valuable osteoporosis prevention, protects against dementia, contributes to well-being and happiness, and provides critical socialization opportunity. (Top Health Benefits of Gardening |U.S. News (usnews.com) All good reasons to get outside and into the dirt. It is also a place to meet God.
Psalm 24
The psalmist wrote Psalm 24 in three parts. The first asserts the everything in this world, including all things living belong to God, the Creator:
“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.” (1-2)
The second part focuses on who is worthy to come before the Lord:
“Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.” (3-6)
Only those with clean hands and a pure heart may enter the Lord’s temple. The references to clean and pure are about morality not physical cleanness. Only those who are good and pure are worthy to come before the Lord.
The third and final part focuses back on God and our need to raise our heads and gaze at our God. It asks the question: “Who is the King of Glory?”
“Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty— he is the King of glory.” (9-10)
The King of Glory comes to us. Psalm 24 encourages us to look up and see our God, coming in glory.
Psalm 24 – The Earth is Where God and Humans Meet!
In Psalm 24 we are reminded that the earth is where we meet God. How great is that?! We don’t meet God in some far-off heaven above, but right here on this earth, in the dirt and messiness of everyday life, while digging in our gardens or wiping baby bottoms. We meet God in people and the beauty of creation.
We approach God and God comes to us. What a wonderful God we have, one who is willing to get down and dirty with people, walking alongside us. A God who was willing to become human.
What has been your experience of God in nature?
(For another take on this psalm see: Psalm 24: The Earth is the Lord’s! – Patricia M Robertson)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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