Thanks Be To God!

You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy. Psalm 65: 11-13 NRSV

The imagery of this psalm is perfect for this time of year. This is the time of the harvest, for reaping the bounty of the season. The imagery combines God's creative order with the domestic needs of humans.

Human imagery:
wagon tracks
pastures
flocks
grain
gird
clothe
shout
sing

Natural imagery:
pastures
wilderness
meadows
valleys
hills

Both of these come together as part of God's creative order:
God's bounty
God's wagon tracks
God's joy

Everything points back to God.

The psalmist has indicated in the proceeding verses that the harvest is plentiful because of what God has done in terms of sending the much-needed rain. It is because of God's natural gift of rain that the harvest is so bountiful so that the joy of the harvest is also because of God. It isn't because humans have planted or planned but because of what God has done that has caused such a rich harvest.

When we are able to trace all the good things in life back to God we are able to be thankful.

God, we are truly thankful for your bounty this season. Thank you! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Name one thing you are truly thankful for in this moment.

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims