Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 1-111 Sunday 17 Jun 2001

Reading: PSALM 65 – A HEAP OF HARVEST PRAISE

(From ‘Encounter with God’ Bible Reading Notes)

‘Father, make me rejoice before you as one rejoicing at the harvest.’

I live in a village tucked on a hill on a two-acre plot which my husband and I always refer to as a ‘gift from heaven’. We grow black pepper, bananas, lime trees, ginger, pineapples and a number of huge fruit-bearing mango trees. I have discovered that one cannot live close to the land and not offer one’s thanks to God every day. For despite our efforts to coax life from the earth, ultimately it is God alone who makes things grow. Also, in the handling of seeds and soil, the drama of life, death and resurrection is continually being played out before us. I suspect it is hard for a farmer to be an atheist! No wonder this psalm explodes with praise to God in its three-fold theme:

First, praise escapes the singer’s lips because God is a forgiving God (v 2). Before God’s abundant grace, he remembers the overwhelming sins of his people. Yet God has forgiven them all. Confession in the midst of plenty is a precious fruit of a humble lifestyle.

Secondly, God deserves praise because he is a creative and powerful God (vs 5-8). His awesome power embraces both nature and the nations. Yahweh is not like the neighbouring gods, instead he is Lord and Creator of the whole universe.

Thirdly, the psalmist sings his praises because God is a caring, providing God (vs 9-13). The land, water, and crops are his. The grass lands, hills and meadows as well. Even the human activities of ‘drenching furrows’ and ‘levelling ridges’ the psalmist attributes to God. He recognises that the very life and strength of men and women come from Almighty God. How then can we not praise him?

Take an inventory of the many ‘harvests’ in your life. Make this your special day of praise and thanksgiving.

– Evelyn Miranda-Feliciano

Copyright Scripture Union, 2001