Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Then the trees of the forest will sing…. 1 Chronicles 16:32-33
Spring has sprung! Today, March 19, 2024, is the first day of Spring. Many people declare Spring as their favorite time of year. Folks who live in colder climates look forward to the warmer temperatures and those that live in more temperate parts of the world anticipate the change of season for different reasons. But almost everyone agrees that Spring brings forth a season of life and beauty that everyone enjoys and anticipates. As I’m writing this, I’m able to see the new flower pots hanging outside the window and they bring a smile to my face. In full disclosure, my thumb is not green and I know very little about growing flowers, shrubs, and trees. Which demonstrates that the season of blooming can speak to anyone.
David brings the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem in 1 Chronicles 15-16. David’s beautiful psalm of thanksgiving to the Lord is recorded in 1 Chronicles 16:7-36. In the psalm, David exhorts us to sing and praise Him. He painted a poetic picture of God’s majesty and grace using nature as a backdrop for his symbolism. Nature passionately declares the creativity and redemptive power of God. Just by being, just by displaying God’s handiwork, nature “sings” God’s praise. My favorite flower is the tulip. I have visited Holland and the seemingly endless fields of beautiful tulips are breathtaking and words are not adequate. Whenever I think of nature singing, the picture of those tulip gardens comes to mind. As the first shoot breaks through the soil, then rises towards the sun, and finally, the buds break open in full bloom, in my imagination it’s kinda like the hallelujah chorus being sung towards Heaven.
Still, there are times when we cannot adequately express how deeply we appreciate God’s goodness and love. So we join with nature as David did, “Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day” (1 Chron 16:23). How does the earth proclaim salvation? It is God’s nature to make something new and His gospel plan for salvation is evident throughout nature. Jesus paints this example for us in John 12 and John 15 using a kernel of wheat and a tree to make His point. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John12:24-25). “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
God created us to glorify Him. That is our purpose both on this earth and in Heaven in its entirety. Everything we do and everything we say should be done in and through the mind of Christ. The budding flowers and all of nature give us the perfect example. As you watch and admire the coming season of bloom and warmth picture in your mind the seas resounding, the flowers dancing in jubilance, and the trees singing as the leaves burst forth. It’s a completely different picture of Spring than the world paints. Can you hear it? Will you join in their praise and glory to God? And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.
The picture was taken of the tulips in Airlie Gardens, Wilmington NC