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! The birds have returned to the woods, and some new ones too, which is a treat! Their songs lift our spirits and remind us to call on God our Savior through prayer, like Mary did.

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 along is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven.

Psalm 148:7-13

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.

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 even walked on water! He who created the elements commands the elements. The wind fulfilled His Word (and to me, this is a type of praise).

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? She saw the angel of the LORD and would not move forward because she knew better. God opened the donkey’s mouth so that she could speak to Balaam, who finally saw what she saw. Balaam realized and bowed his head before the angel in his path. This led to Balaam finally saying what God had told him to say. He who created the animals can make them talk if He wants to!

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 is coming. These vivid verses paint the scene of rejoicing in God’s righteousness. The evil that persists now will one day be destroyed. There is a time coming when God will have His vengeance and all of creation will respond. There is a time coming when what is right will be showcased and what is wrong will be thrown into the lake of fire. God is a God of justice, and He hears our requests, and praises.

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

Power. Might. When our Lord says He can make the stones cry out, these words come to mind. Jesus can work on tough hearts that have turned their backs on Him. He can work miracles. Jesus has power to forgive sin, restore souls, mend ways, heal minds, renew spirits, and hear prayers. He intercedes on our behalf, we who have faith.

Humans:

Abraham, Hannah, Mary, David, Jabez, Elizabeth, Esther, Deborah, John, Paul, Peter, Lydia, the woman at the well—all of these people in the Bible (and more) have given praise to our Creator. Their songs and prayers have been recorded. Their words of praise are there for us to read, to hear, to contemplate, to apply, and to remember.

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
 
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
 
They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.
Psalm 145:7

Have faith!

May we sing with the woodland birds to our Creator who to us has shown His great goodness.