18th. July. 2022.Daily Devotions.
Proverbs 3:19
By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place. Proverbs 3:19
On Christmas Day 2021, NASA launched the James Webb Space Telescope. This successor to the Hubble Telescope cost $10 billion and took nearly a month to arrive at its destination a million miles from earth. The creators of the telescope hope to show earth-bound humans images from the earliest stars in the universe. The first pictures, released last week, are breath-taking.
In Genesis 1, we are told that God created the stars and the entire universe, with nothing more than the word of His mouth. He spoke, and it came into being. Just like that—poof! Space was empty, and then God filled it. Proverbs here tells us that God laid the earth’s foundations by using His wisdom. He set the heavens in place with His understanding. And His knowledge created the oceans, rivers, and waterways. It is impossible for the human mind to completely understand the mysteries of these things. Yet God created all of this with only His words and by His wisdom.
Worship of astral deities was common in the ancient Near East. The “gods” of the sun, moon, and stars counted many people among their followers. The Bible is clear that the heavens are nothing more than created things meant to display God’s wonder and wisdom. We in the modern world may scoff at the idea of worshiping the stars, but we have the same problem as people in the ancient Near East. Many still do not worship the God who made the heavens, instead putting our faith in more sophisticated idols. And yet God’s wisdom, through which He created the universe and that culminates in the death, resurrection, and ascension of His Son, still calls out to us, beckoning us to a relationship with Him.
Tonight, step out in the dark and do a bit of star gazing. Consider the “works of His hands” and all that God has created. Let that moment become a time of praise to our Creator.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge . . . their voice goes out into all the earth” (Ps. 19:1–4).
O eternal and glorious Trinity, deeper than the deepest sea, and the abyss of love for whom we thirst and long; let us forever desire your light, forever seek your face, and forever wrap ourselves in the robe of your glory; world without end. Amen.
~ Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
Saint Francis’ Prayer of Praise
You are holy, Lord, the only God,
and your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong;
You are great.
You are the Most High,
You are almighty,
You, holy Father, are
King of heaven and earth.
You are Three and One,
Lord God, all good.
You are Good, all Good, supreme Good,
Lord God, living and true.
You are love,
You are wisdom,
You are humility,
You are endurance.
You are rest,
You are peace.
You are joy and gladness.
You are justice and moderation.
You are all our riches,
And you suffice for us.
You are beauty,
You are gentleness.
You are our protector,
You are our guardian and defender,
You are courage.
You are our haven and our hope.
You are our faith,
Our great consolation.
You are our eternal life,
Great and wonderful Lord,
God Almighty,
Merciful Saviour, Amen.
