The Apostle John echoes our theme today in the book of Revelation 4:11. "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."

There is a plurality in this creating work of our Father in heaven. By that I mean what he creates from nothing he continues to fashion anew step by step and day by day. There is also a gladness and a joy in this process that we discover in our second portion of Psalm 104. And the providential blessings of God multiply for the creatures He fashions to inhabit His creation.

In verse ten we see that He provides the springs which trickle down the new valleys between the risen mountains. These rambling streams go out with a purpose. That purpose is to sustain all of the wild animals of the world as we understand these beasts of the field. The second strophe of verse eleven highlights this meaning by noting that God cares even for normally domestic animals that end up in the wild.

These drinking animals do not always quietly sip their water. Cattle will sometimes blow bubbles after coming in from the hot meadow. Sheep will settle down in the cool shadows surrounding the springs. Some animals will splash in the shallows and others cool themselves in the deeper calms.

In verse twelve we see that the birds find a nesting place nearby. Further music is thus added to the sounds of mountain brooks and splashing animals. This water we are told in verse thirteen is renewed from the clouds and the thirst of the whole earth is satisfied by God's gracious hand. These springs flowing gladly from the fountains of God also provide the food for creatures great and small as well. There is grass for the cattle of a thousand hills.

The plants edible by man will also be provided for so that mankind may be granted daily bread. And not only necessities are provided by the hand of the Lord. Also the luxuries of wine and oil are specifically mentioned. Just as the Lord takes delight in His creation so He provides all the little things that make life more than comfortable.

In verse sixteen we see that in addition to the short grasses God also cares for the giants of vegetation as well. The trees are watered, even the cedars of Lebanon which the Lord has well planted.

Around our house we planted over seventy-five pine trees of various types. The oldest have been growing for twenty-five years. Every once in a while it is indeed a pleasure to walk in the midst of the pine garden that has been cared for these many years. Already many of those twelve inch sprouts stand four times my own height. In the wet weather of spring, these trees blossom with several shades of green as they stretch their growth for another year.

As in our psalmists description birds hide in the branches of our trees. Ever since the state supported wild lands have gone to seed in our neighborhood, wild life of every sort have returned. Hawks regularly patrol the fields in search of dinner invitations. Whenever their shadows cross the lawn the little birds that nest in our trees hush their singing.

We do not have storks as they do in Europe in our pines and on our chimneys. Neither have we in our area the high mountains. A neighbor once kept a small flock of mountain goats and we do have a multiplying creature like the coneys of Palestine. We had several of these little fellows move into our barn and under our porch. They are great survivors. One little fellow helped us keep the weeds down in our garden for an entire summer. He was very fond of lettuce. Years ago, one of our boys came running into the house shouting that he had shot the groundhog under the porch. I looked around in confusion to make certain the rifle was on its pegs and the ammunition drawer locked. Then he held up his squirt gun and said he hit the animal right between the eyes! Fortunately these animals do not like having a liquid sauna in their living quarters so we are at least able to have some dominion over their choice of home.

In the next verse, nineteen, the vision of our psalmist rises to the heavens. He observes the timeless motions of moon and sun. The seasons are carefully marked off and day and night made distinct. Early man always had a problem with the seasons. Counting moons would be accurate for only a few years. Primitive methods were developed to cope with God's order. The Maya's carved a thirteen year calendar of almost unbelievable accuracy. The celts built Stonehenge and the Egyptians built the great Pyramid to establish specific dates of the year. All of this science over the course of many years finally brought us to an understanding of what God has already accomplished and ordered.

The psalmist tells us that God brings night for a purpose. Then as the darkness falls, the nocturnal animals come out in full force. Our psalmist assures us that even the lions ask for their daily food. The natural cycle continues at dawn, the nocturnal beasts slip away to sleep in their dens. Daylight is given to mankind for his work and witness until evening.

Spurgeon suggests that even as the the lions and night prowlers leave the day to man, so do the demons who serve Satan flee the light of righteousness as the Gospel spreads throughout the world. I don't know how serious to take that statement, but I do know a younger man who once lived in a mountain resort out west where the local scouts and a medicine man began recreating the ancient mantras and dances. Given the rampant paganism of the resort, the young man, who was a devout Christian, said that he felt oppressed just living in the area. I can almost believe that a lot of what is called stress in our society is a withdrawal of God's Holy Spirit from places where He, His Son and Spirit are no longer welcome?

However, wherever two or three of the Lord's people are gathered together, we are promised that there He is in our very midst.

In the proper understanding of these verses and countless other ways, God's providence is effected throughout all of creation. Just as we see God effecting through creation the feeding and care of all creatures small and great, so is God careful to care for each and every one of us day by day. As we gain an ever greater appreciation of God's providential care for all the creatures of creation, perhaps we can become more convinced that he cares ever so much more for each and every one of us. Even as he created us, He also cares for us day by day wherever He has placed us to do His work. May we become more and more convinced of that. Amen.