The River of God

Psalm 65:8 – Those who live at the ends of the earth
stand in awe of your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,
you inspire shouts of joy.

⁹ You take care of the earth and water it,
making it rich and fertile.
The river of God has plenty of water;
it provides a bountiful harvest of grain,
for you have ordered it so.
¹⁰ You drench the plowed ground with rain,
melting the clods and leveling the ridges.
You soften the earth with showers
and bless its abundant crops.
¹¹ You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;
even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.
¹² The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,
and the hillsides blossom with joy.
¹³ The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,
and the valleys are carpeted with grain.
They all shout and sing for joy! (NLT)

At first glance, this passage simply appears to be a nice psalm of thanksgiving for the blessings of God that come through nature: the rains, the harvest; the healthy livestock.  This psalm does, indeed, give thanks to God for these blessings, but I believe that we should take a deeper look and make a spiritual application. 

Verse nine affirms that God takes care of the earth.  When we give thanks for God’s care over the earth, let us remember the words of Jesus: “Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.” (Matthew 6:28-30 NLT) God does take care of the earth, and God will certainly take care of us!  God provides for the earth, and God’s provisions (both physical and spiritual) are offered for all.

Consider something else we find in verse nine: “The river of God has plenty of water”.  Throughout the Gospels, Jesus often uses this imagery of water.  Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John: “But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” (John 4:14).  “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35).

The River of God has plenty of water! No one needs to be left thirsting.  Today, let us drink deeply from God’s River.  Let us also share with others the joy of this life giving gift. 

Posted by Ramón Torres