Summer and winter
And springtime and harvest
Sun moon and stars
In their courses above
Join with all nature
In manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness
Mercy and love
Great Is Thy Faithfulness (1923)
By: Thomas Chisholm (1866–1960)
Listen to this modern version of this popular hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.
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Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
We continue our journey through this popular hymn which declares the faithfulness of our God, true in every season, experienced by hearts of faith. Let’s tune our hearts.
Cyclical Seasons
Do you have a favorite season?
Most people do. There are particular things about that season that just sets it apart, whether memories, activities, family celebrations or simply the weather itself. They are excited as it approaches and sad as it gives way to the next.
If you have lived in a place that has distinct seasons and you move to a place where they are more subtle, it can be disappointing. If you have lived in a place that has subtle seasonal changes and you more to a place where they are more severe, it can be shocking. I suppose at some level that makes your appreciation of seasonal changes subjective.
Either way, the seasons do change with great predictability, whether subtle or severe. Those changes, and the cycle they portray is a beautiful thing. The fresh starts of Spring, the heat of Summer, the crispness of Fall, and the deadness of Winter represent the very cycle of life: birth, maturity, aging, and death. God appointing a time for every purpose under heaven, whether for the earth as a whole or an individual life.
The hymn evokes this imagery in these opening words.
Summer and winter
And springtime and harvest
You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter. Psalm 74:17 ESV
I love the seasons and how they remind us that things change, but God does not. Reigning in faithfulness over all that He has made He demonstrates His faithfulness through their cycle. As surely as one ends another begins. He made them just like He fixed all the laws that govern His creation.
RESONATE!
Take a moment to look around and allow the season you are in now to speak of the faithfulness of God. If the season you are in is making it difficult to do that, identify why that is. What is happening in your life in this season that God wants to use to prompt your praise? Even if you are in a rough spot and it seems like nothing is changing, take some encouragement from the seasons and rest in the fact that things will change, because God has built that rhythm into the fabric of this life. Thank Him through changing seasons you can praise Him for His changeless character.
Celestial Spheres
Looking around gives us the perspective that things are changing as the days pass, even though those changes may only be visible day to day on a very small scale. Looking up can give us a similar perspective of things changing, albeit a more expansive one. There is a rhythm to each.
As the seasons change, so does the orientation of the sphere we live on to those around us. The moon is the most obvious as it changes in appearance a little each day. The tilting of the earth on its axis causes seasonal changes as it effects our position relative to the sun, and even where we might find certain constellations in the night sky. Even so, day after day and night after night they are still there. Their rhythm is reliable when other things may seem to be anything but.
Sun moon and stars
In their courses above
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. Psalm 19:1-4 ESV
Not to be outdone by the seasons, the celestial bodies get in on declaring God’s faithfulness as well. As surely as the sun sets it will rise again. This proclaims His handiwork and invites us to respond with our worship.
When was the last time you went outside at night to simply look up and marvel anew at God’s glory? All you see will be declaring it, and inviting you to do the same. It is easy to loose perspective by getting to accustomed to looking down, but you can change that today, or tonight rather.
Spirit, help me pour forth my earthly praise to join the heavenly.
RESONATE!
Step outside and look up. It is an awesome display of God’s faithfulness, whether you can locate the North Star or not. Marvel at God’s power on display in the heavenly bodies and ask the Spirit to help you pour forth praise to add to theirs. Maybe something here below the stars is keeping you from joining the celestial praise? Maybe a little star-gazing will lift you eyes and you spirit. Try it.
Father, thank You for the way you put your faithfulness on display through cyclical seasons and celestial spheres. There is a rhythm in each of them that speaks to order, design, and patterns. Help me to develop my own rhythm of responding to Your faithfulness through these teachers and any others. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Rhythmic Tuning!
Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence. We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.
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Video 23.2 Transcript
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
Summer and winter
And springtime and harvest
Sun moon and stars
In their courses above
Join with all nature
In manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness
Mercy and love
I love the seasons and how they remind us that things change, but God does not. Reigning in faithfulness over all that He has made He demonstrates His faithfulness through their cycle. What season are you in as you read? How is that prompting your praise today?
God, through changing seasons I praise You for Your changeless character.
Step outside and look up. All that you see is declaring the glory of God. Is something here below keeping you from joining the celestial praise? Marvel at God’s power on display in the heavenly bodies and ask the Spirit to help you pour forth praise to add to theirs.
Spirit, help me pour forth my earthly praise to join the heavenly.
Not only do seasons and stars declare His glory, but also all nature. Every created thing proclaims the handiwork of God, in many and various ways. You are a unique expression of that witness. How will you exercise that privilege today? Ask Jesus to help you.
Jesus, please show me how to use my life as a witness.
His love is steadfast. His mercy is unmerited. His faithfulness is great. All around there are constant expressions of these truths but we often fail to recognize them, which leaves us incapable of declaring them. Ask the Father to help you see them all around you today.
Father, show me Your faithfulness, mercy and love.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.
Sing
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, Be Resonant.
The post Developing a Rhythm of Looking Around, and Up appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attributions
Summer and Winter and Springtime and Harvest – https://pixabay.com/photos/seasons-of-the-year-summer-autumn-1127760/
Sun, Moon and Stars in their Courses Above – https://pixabay.com/photos/space-planet-earth-orbit-sky-1201086/
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