The Glory of the Lord: Finding Joy in God's Works of Creation

In the book of Psalms, we find a beautiful passage that speaks to the glory of the Lord and his works of creation. Psalm 104:31–34 says, "May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord."

This passage reminds us that God takes joy in his creation. He looks upon the earth and it trembles, he touches the mountains and they smoke. The power and majesty of God's works are awe-inspiring. When we look at the world around us, we should be stunned and awed by the wisdom and power of our Creator.

But God's purpose in creating the world goes beyond just impressing us with his power and majesty. His works of creation point us beyond themselves to God himself. When we look at the beauty of a sunset, the intricacy of a flower, or the grandeur of a mountain range, we should not stop at simply admiring the creation. Instead, we should let these works of God lead us to a greater appreciation of who God is in himself.

In Psalm 8:3, it says that God created the heavens and the earth with just his fingers. This imagery reminds us of the incredible power and creativity of God. If something as small as his fingers can create such beauty and complexity, imagine what God himself must be like!

The psalmist goes on to say that the enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. He compares the accommodations and pleasures of this world to mere shadows and scattered beams, while God is the substance and the sun, the ocean that satisfies our souls.

When we truly understand this, we realize that the purpose of creation is not just for our enjoyment, but to lead us to a deeper relationship with God. The beauty and wonder of the world are meant to stir our hearts to worship and praise the Creator. As the psalmist says, "I will sing praise to my God while I have being. . . . For I rejoice in the Lord."

In the end, it will not be the seas or the mountains or the canyons or the water spiders or the clouds or the great galaxies that fill our hearts to breaking with wonder and fill our mouths with eternal praise. It will be God himself. The billion galaxies of the universe will not satisfy the human soul. Only God and God alone is the soul's end.

As we reflect on the glory of the Lord and his works of creation, let us remember that they are meant to point us to God himself. Let us not be content with admiring the beauty of the world, but let us use it as a springboard to dive deeper into a relationship with our Creator. May our meditation be pleasing to him, as we rejoice in the Lord.

So the next time you witness a breathtaking sunset or stand in awe of a majestic mountain, let it be a reminder of the greatness and goodness of God. And let it be an invitation to sing praise and rejoice in the Lord, who created all things for his glory and our enjoyment.

In conclusion, the psalmist's words in Psalm 104:31–34 remind us of the joy and delight that God takes in his works of creation. They also remind us that the purpose of creation is not just for our enjoyment, but to lead us to a deeper relationship with God. Let us not be content with admiring the beauty of the world, but let us use it as a means to worship and praise the Creator. May our meditation be pleasing to him, as we rejoice in the Lord.