You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. You crown the year with bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy! Psalm 65: 9-13 NLT
As a person who lives where it seems to rain a lot, I find myself lacking in appreciation for these verses.
However, in the Holy Land, water has historically been scarce. Today, modern forms of irrigation have made the country of Israel more fertile as well as created some problems (like the shrinking of the Dead Sea). In biblical times, a bountiful harvest depended on the rains. It is no wonder this psalm is practically a poem of praise in honor of the God who has provided all the water.
Take a moment and re-read today's scripture. Then spend some time thinking about what “rains” you depend on in your life – yet often find to be scarce. When God provides a bounty of those waters, what kinds of growth and harvest do you see?
God, thank you for providing the rain and rich soil in our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
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