WOODLAND SONG

Joyfully, joyfully, feathered friends call,
the chickadees and grosbeaks and orioles all,
to sing a lyric melody at opening of day,
to start the winging choir, a-chirping all the way!
 
Over high, over there, beside the babbling brook,
the cardinals and veeries resound in every nook;
the drumming of the ruffed grouse, the cooing of the dove,
the tapping of the woodpecker that echoes up above!
 
“Yahweh God! Yahweh God!”, into the evening night,
hummingbirds and nuthatches turn in from their flight.
And in the final light of day, the robin sings her song.
What joy to hear the woodland birds sing praises all day long!
 
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Luke 1:46-47                                                       

 

WOODLAND SONG

The veeries are very glad in Veery Glade. And so am I!

The birds have returned to the woods. Their songs lift my spirit and their calls remind me to call on God my Savior through prayer. Isn't it true that what God created praises Him? From the weather, to animals, to trees, to stones, to humans—the Bible tells us so.

Praise the LORD from the earth,
ye dragons, and all deeps:
fire, and hail; snow, and vapours;
stormy wind fulfilling his word:
mountains, and all hills;
fruitful trees, and all cedars:
beasts, and all cattle;
creeping things, and flying fowl:
kings of the earth, and all people;
princes, and all judges of the earth:
both young men, and maidens;
old men, and children:
Let them praise the name of the LORD:
For his name alone is excellent;
His glory is above the earth and heaven.
Psalm 148:7-13

Weather:

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea,
Peace, be still.
And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?
And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Mark 4:39-41

Jesus commanded the wind on the Sea of Galilee. He walked on water. And God had sent weather changes to Elijah and others. He who created the elements commands the elements.

Animals:

And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down upon Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou has smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
Numbers 22:27-31

Remember Balaam's donkey? God opened the donkey’s mouth so that she could speak. And this led to Balaam finally saying what God told him to say, much to Balak’s anger.

Trees:

Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the LORD; for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Psalm 96:12-13

Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.

1 Chronicles 16:33

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12 

Judgment on earth is coming. All of creation will respond. God is aware of everything He made.

Stones:

And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Luke 19:40

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Matthew 3:9 

God is almighty. He is the Creator whom we do not “mess” with! Remember, we are the created, made out of the dirt of the ground. Let us keep that perspective going!

Humans: 

Where do I start with the Bible verses of people gone on before us that have given praise to our Maker? I think of Abraham, Hannah, Mary, David, Jabez, Elizabeth, Esther, Deborah, John, Paul, Peter, Lydia, the woman at the well. Songs and prayers have been recorded. Lives have portrayed praise. It's all there. And they’re written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

And Mary said,

My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from hence forth all generations shall call be blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
Luke 1:46-49

Offer praise in prayer to our Creator. It is He who has done great things for us!

For by him were all things created,
that are in heaven, and that are in earth,
visible and invisible, whether they be thrones,
or dominions, or principalities, or powers:
all things were created by him, and for him.
Colossians 1:16

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:7-8 

Sing with the woodland birds our Creator’s praise and abound in kindness.