Interruption and God-bothering

After describing the breathtaking view from Birdlip Hill I had to interrupt myself. On my desk I have a prayer card with a picture of Elyanour and her children. She tells her story in Gaza - what she sees is a landscape of destruction and fear. It's a BMS card with prayer requests. Looking at her is humbling. What a privilege we have when we see our Summer views. And how much we should pray and care for those facing distress. We are a very fortunate people, aren't we?

Back to Birdlip Hill. As teenagers we weren’t very sensitive. I didn’t notice what percentage of that crowd were so irritated, even angry, about these enthusiastic noisy young people interrupting their enjoyment.  Much later in life when Carol and I worked for BBC Radio Blackburn religious program some in the studio actually called us God botherers to our faces. 'Here come the God botherers!' Psalm 148 is a God-bothering psalm. Most people know how to enjoy looking at this world without the need for God.  And we think we know about praise, too. Praise is telling someone they have done a good job. It applauds, recognizes work, skill, character. But this psalm profoundly challenges us. It isn’t about us praising God that he has done a good job in creation. He knows it’s good! This psalm is all about us joining in with creation’s praise. With what’s already going on all around us. 'Creation declares the glory of God, the skies proclaim this is God’s world'  (Ps 19)  Yes, the whole of creation is alive giving glory to God.  This is about everything. Everything -  things above, things on earth  - reveal God’s invisible qualities – as Paul puts it: his eternal power and divine nature (Rom 1;20). Beauty, design, order. complexity. This God bothering psalm doesn’t let us sit on top of Birdlip Hill  or wherever we are in Gods’ world, without declaring that all we see is God’s doing. As it resonates like a great symphony to God the creators’ praise, we are commanded to join in.

This psalm gives two lists for joining in. The first is all about joining in with the heavens above, about which we know so little: praise him from the heavens, praise him angels, praise him sun, moon and stars, praise highest heavens, let them praise the name of the Lord (verse5). We are part of a singing creation letting rip in wonder as you see what he’s done. Unreservedly we should join in a profound union with all this wonderful, amazing stuff of which we are part. And our place is made clear in the second list.

The second list praises God from the earth. And the praisers include: great sea creatures, ocean depths, lightning, hail, snow, clouds, stormy winds, mountains, hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals, all cattle, small creatures and flying birds. (Notice some of his favourite things -fruit trees!) And then,  emphasizing how much we belong in God’s creation - the world of people. kings, nations,  young men and women, old men and children.  I love the way the psalm ends with special mention of his people, his saints. Those close to his heart , alongside sea creatures, fruit trees, small creatures. When we join in creation’s praise,  we are part and parcel of the wonder. You and me, made in the image of God..