Psalm 148:7-14

“Young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.” vss. 12-13

The psalmist is at his best in these verses extolling the glory of God. In his fertile imagination he sees all of creation, from great sea monsters to young men and women, joining together in praise of the Creator, who is alone to be exalted. There is immense value in seeing ourselves in the same category as lofty pines, elegant birches, creeping things, and flying birds. Such an outlook should spawn at least some degree of appreciation for the amazing interdependence of all things visible and invisible. It might even lead humans to pay more serious attention to our special role as stewards and caretakers. Too often we’ve acted as exploiters and ravagers of creation, spewing caustic fumes into the air and turned pristine wilderness into garbage dumps. Perhaps if we regarded ourselves with more humility we would work harder to preserve species instead of exterminating them. Sadly we seem to be moving in the wrong direction. More and more people are understanding environmental protection as a threat to wealth and profitability. There is little inclination to make the sacrifices connected with doing the right thing for the planet. Some say that unless we repent we will soon have succeeded in making the earth unfit for human habitation. It may be that there is still time for us to change…all creation awaits our decision!

Thought for the Day: What responsibilities do humans have for the rest of creation?