Week 13: Midlife revelation

Devotional Readings Focused on Psalm 19 and 104 for the Fourth Week of March: Finding Joy in God's Revelation

Meditation on God's Creation

Skip to the Bible readings and reflection questions

When I was a child, my grandmother took me into the field next to her house to look for dandelions. She taught me how to distinguish the tender emerging leaves and flower buds from the older, tougher ones. We filled a bowl together. At lunchtime, Grandma mixed cream, sugar, and apple cider vinegar to dress the greens and tiny buds. I still remember that salad even after 50 years!

What made that experience so memorable? I believe it was my amazement at being able to eat from the neighbor's pasture. Grandma and I found food given by the hand of God for our delight and nourishment!

The Delight of Harvesting

Since then, one of my joys has been hand-picking the earth's fruits at various farms or growing them myself. For a few years, when we had a large garden, my morning ritual was to step outside in my pajamas to water the plants with one hand and pick fresh, ripe vegetables with the other. It was another sign of abundance from God's hand.

Currently, I may not have a garden, but I can still feast daily on God's provisions through His Word. The psalms and other readings this week proclaim the beauty and necessity of both God's natural revelation—the created world—and His special revelation, found in the Bible. Both bring us joy and peace while pointing us to the One who longs to be known by us.

The Glory of God in Scripture and Nature

Psalm 19 highlights the message from both the heavens and the scriptures. David asserts that the heavens speak wordlessly, yet unmistakably, of God's glory:

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

(Psalm 19:1, NIV)

This message is so evident that later in Romans 1, Paul states that nature alone is sufficient to hold humans accountable for their relationship with God:

. . . since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

(Romans 1:19-20, NIV)

God is not cruel or unreasonable. He reveals His glory in nature and gives us His Word to guide us into fellowship with Himself:

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.

The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.

(Psalm 19:7-9, NIV)

What a significant gift! In this season of my life, I must ask myself: How often do I accept God's revelation of Himself to me? Probably not as regularly as I should.

The Importance of Daily Fellowship

David encourages us to meet with God regularly. He begins Psalm 19 by describing the sun, the source of light and energy for our world. The sun is a daily gift from God. You can set your clock by it! Every day it faithfully rises and sets, allowing the earth to be fruitful. David's correlation of the sun with scripture in Psalm 19 has clear implications: The Word of God is a provision to enjoy daily.

I need to improve my commitment to God's revelation through nature and His Word. During transitional seasons like midlife, we must lean more into who God is revealing Himself to be. This is the only way we gain clarity of purpose, renewed strength, and the peace that God promises for the inevitable challenges of life.

And perhaps, our renewed connection to God and His creation may ignite wonder in the heart of a grandchild while we pick wildflowers together in a field.

Readings and Reflection Questions

Monday's reading: Psalm 19

Reflection Questions: What benefits of reading God's Word does David mention in this Psalm? How does the action of the sun providing light and energy mirror the spiritual action of God's Word? Read verse 14 again: Why do you think David concluded with this prayer?

Tuesday's reading: Philippians 2:12-16

Reflection Questions: This passage by Paul uses a nature metaphor. What does Paul say we should emulate? What specific action fosters this quality? According to verse 16, what should we cling to in developing this quality?

Wednesday's reading: Isaiah 40:3-14

Reflection Questions: This passage uses metaphors to compare natural and biblical revelation. How do the two relate? Verses 12-14 present five questions to the reader. What point is God making?

Thursday's reading: Job 38-39

Reflection Questions: In answering Job's questions about his suffering, God appeared and questioned him. Which scientific subjects did God question Job about in chapter 38? Which twelve animals did God inquire about in chapter 39? Why do you think God chose such detailed descriptions and questions for Job?

Friday's reading: Job 40-42:6

Reflection Questions: In chapters 40 and 41, God questions Job about two unconquerable animals: the behemoth and the leviathan. In Job's culture, these two represented chaos and evil. Why do you think God focused on them? What message does God convey about humanity’s power against evil? What is Job's final statement to God in chapter 42? Why is God's use of natural revelation particularly effective in Job 38-41?

Weekend reading: Psalm 104

Reflection Questions: In this psalm, David illustrates the harmony of God's creation and how it works together. Take a moment to note or underline the descriptions that resonate with your experiences of nature. Reflect on the wonders of creation, noting David's response to God's creative genius in verses 33-35. Do you see a connection to Psalm 19?