“The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!” Psalm 93:3-4 ESV
Reflection: how can we experience and honor the Lord’s presence all around us, His majesty?
Early in our marriage, my wife and I visited some friends in the San Diego area. It was our first time there. For me, having grown up along the ocean in Norway, I could not wait to get to and see the ocean. To explore the famous California coast and beaches, to see the vastness of the Pacific Ocean with its beautiful sunsets. So I asked our friends, “With the ocean so close, how often do you go there?” I did not expect the answer, “Oh we rarely go, since we live here and know we can go anytime”. I was stunned. Still remember the sinking feeling from hearing that response. With this amazing wonder of God’s creation literally in their backyard, how could they choose not to go? Not to see and experience such magnificence?
You might have wondered, like me, why so many people choose to live in crowded and polluted cities around the world? Perhaps the quick answer would be because of work, or the services they need (or want), or even the desire to live in a community with other people. This really is a result of the Industrial Revolution starting around 1800, causing a steady migration of people from the countryside to cities. From land to asphalt and concrete. One of the effects of city life is a disconnect from nature. A disconnect from God’s purpose for creation. From His design. As with our friends, not taking time to just sit on the bench to watch a magnificent pacific sunset. It almost felt like the gift of that experience had been taken away from them. Like stolen from them.
Is this disconnect from nature by design?
In psalm 93, we see the psalmist recognizing the glory, the majesty of God in nature. “The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!” Psalm 93:3-4 ESV. The “floods” here should perhaps have been translated to “rivers”, or even waterfalls. It is the noise you hear as you sit next to a river in a mountainous region. The strength, the might, the roar can be a very powerful experience. And the psalmist says here that the rivers “have lifted up their voice; the Lord on high is mighty!” Is this just poetry, or can we actually experience God’s majesty just being in nature?
The psalmist starts out by recognizing that “The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.” Psalm 93:1-2 ESV. It is from this angle, this perspective that he is looking for signs of God, in His creation. Such as in a mighty river and waterfall. Or the rolling of the ocean waves. Or a pacific sunset. These are the fingerprints of our God, our creator. It is His robe of majesty.
Perhaps we need to return to being closer to nature again. But, let’s honor Him today by taking some time to step outside and see for ourselves. And, if possible, step away from the city and the noise, to observe His robe of majesty. And let’s praise Him for His glory.