Sunday 15th January
Read Psalm 104:5-13
“He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.
6 You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
8 they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.
9 You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.
10 He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.
11 They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.” (NIVUK)
The psalmist spends much time reflecting on Day 2. No longer are the waters the threat that the nations, and even the Hebrews, believed them to be – a source of chaos and fear. But the waters are rebuked by Yahweh, they are put in their place and told precisely where they can and can’t go.
More than that those very separated waters are continuously held back by the will of God and do that will perfectly. These separated waters provide springs and drinking water and fruitful rainfall. Rather than bringing death and chaos in an all-consuming flood, they provide life and sustenance and joy to creation.
What may seem in the Genesis account as the mere splitting of water above and below to make space for land – is seen by the psalmist for the blessing that it truly is. Spend time in prayer pondering God’s blessing and wisdom and continuing grace.
