More Constant than a River
Friday (December 5)
More Constant than a River
Psalm 98:8
Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together.
I’ve mentioned before that I like to hike up a small creek not too far from my house and sit quietly with the LORD to write these devotional reflections, and that stream is my companion today as I reflect on Psalm 98:8. Looking out across the waters now, I’m struck by the thought that this river to my right never stops applauding. When I pick up my things to leave in a few hours, the applause will continue. When the temperature drops tonight and I’m sleeping soundly in the comfort of my warm home, the applause continues. When I’m playing with my little baby girl tonight and forget the sound of Campbell Creek, the applause continues.
But consider a more convicting thought, friend. Consider that even if I let the worries of my day overcome all gratitude and I fail to pray for others and I disregard my neighbor’s need, and even if I use my words in a foolish fashion, the applause continues. And even if my spiritual fervor suddenly ran dry right now in the middle of me writing this sentence, and I got up from this seat, shoved my notepad and Bible back into my backpack, and stormed through the forest trail to my truck, the applause would continue. Because the applause doesn’t start with my voice and it doesn’t end with my voice. Almighty God receives the glory due His name whether I’m asleep or silent or just downright apathetic. The same is true of you. Even now, rivers are clapping their hands for their Creator. Those grasses that fill the rolling hills are dancing in the breeze to worship their Shepherd. The high mountains are standing in ovation to the Rock of Ages. Sparrows are chirping little lullabies, and the crickets are clicking their legs to the music, and even if we tried to tune all of that out in a fit of anger, even if we locked ourselves in the quietist room on earth to evade the song, there, in the silence, we’d still hear the low humming of our nervous system and the steady rhythm of our pulse drumming right along to hail the One Who formed them.
Friend, don’t let the rivers and hills outdo you in worship today. They haven’t tasted the same grace that you have.