Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite
It breathes in the air it shines in the light
It streams from the hills it descends to the plain
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain
O Worship the King 1561
By: William Kethe (?-1594)
Listen to this worshipful version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.
Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant! Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!
Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below! It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we continue our journey through this ancient text and hymn, think about how God’s care flows through the majestic and the minute. From grand vistas to the closest droplet of water it is everywhere. Do you have eyes to see it? Let’s think about this.
Streams Descending
From the light and air of the previous line, we turn our attention to the care of God expressed in the flowing stream. What beautiful imagery making the profound and extravagant accessible and within reach. God’s bountiful care flows to us like the waters from on high, trickling down through raindrop and rivulet to quench our thirst and refresh our souls.
There is a sense in which this flow is unstoppable. It works its way down to us from on high, and finds some course to flow with the pull of gravity to the lowest places we may visit. Using the downward descent of water to portray the care of our God to us is inspiring.
It streams from the hills it descends to the plain
But the land that you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven, Deuteronomy 11:11 ESV
Though the Scripture here is addressing the Promised Land the Israelites were about to inherit and actual water flowing there, they are but one illustration of God’s care. Even so, they are a beautiful representation of it. His care flows from heaven and our lives drink it up.
This is good news because we all find ourselves in thirsty places at one time or another. It can seem like God’s care is so far off in those moments when our weary souls become parched. The imagery of this stanza reminds us that God’s care will flow to us if we will simply walk in His promises.
Whether you find yourself on a mountaintop or a valley you are not outside of the reach of God’s plentiful kindness. It will meet you wherever you are if you will simply open yourself up to its flow, and wait for it. Whatever you need today, wait for His streams of care to flow to you.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about God’s care flowing down to you. Are you willing to wait for it? Pray this simple prayer, “Spirit, help me wait for Your streams of care.” Then find your soul refreshed in His streams.
Sweetly Distilled
God’s care flows to us from above. We must learn to wait and allow it to collect into droplets of blessing. Often times we miss it because we are in too much of a hurry to let it distill.
Just like the process of distilling extracts the essence of something, whether physically of linguistically, it happens a little at a time. It is a process that truly can not be rushed. God’s care sometimes appears slowly or in small quantities at a time. Dew and rain are perfect picture of how His care sometimes flows to us.
Is there an area of your life that needs His care? Will you wait for it to distill to appear slowly, or will you impatiently complain that it is not coming quickly enough? Sometimes it stream from the hills, and other times it sweetly distills. God knows what is best for you. Wait for the refreshing to come in the fashion that serves His purposes best.
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain
May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb. Deuteronomy 32:2 ESV
There is a refreshing that comes with the dew and the rain. Even the anticipation of it can be felt in the air. Our souls can receive God’s instruction in a similar way. His instruction is one of the simplest and most profound ways He cares for us. How will you receive it today?
The quiet and gentle gathering together of the smallest expressions of God’s care is sweet indeed. As you open your heart to that accumulation prepare to find your soul refreshed, not only in the flow but even in the process. Hoping in God’s care changes your entire perspective.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider how God’s care may be distilling for you today, this week, this season. It probably is coming more slowly than you might like, but the flow is perfectly controlled by our gracious King. Wait for it. Put your hope in it and Him. Pray simply, “Lord, my hope is in Your care.”
Lord, thank You for how You care for me. Never overwhelming, but just right. Teach me to wait for your care to come at the pace You have ordained. In Jesus name. Amen.
Receptive Thinking!
Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness? Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.
Podcast 32.3 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. Nahum 1:7 ESV
This entire stanza is about the care God gives us and how inexpressible it is. Never do we know that better than when we see His goodness displayed in the midst of trouble. Take refuge in Him again today and know His care as only those who do so can.
It breathes in the air it shines in the light
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17 ESV
We spend the balance of this stanza reciting the many and varied ways God’s care comes to us. I love the poetry here describing it as breathing and shining in the light and air. Everything we need flows from Him and His changeless nature, including breath and light. Thank Him.
It streams from the hills it descends to the plain
But the land that you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven, Deuteronomy 11:11 ESV
Though the Scripture here is addressing the Promised Land the Israelites were about to inherit and actual water flowing there, they are but one illustration of God’s care. Even so, they are a beautiful representation of it. His care flows from heaven and our lives drink it up.
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain
May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb. Deuteronomy 32:2 ESV
There is a refreshing that comes with the dew and the rain. Even the anticipation of it can be felt in the air. Our souls can receive God’s instruction in a similar way. His instruction is one of the simplest and most profound ways He cares for us. How will you receive it today?
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the refrain.
Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite
It breathes in the air it shines in the light
It streams from the hills it descends to the plain
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, Be Resonant.
The post Minding the Flow of God’s Care appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attribution
It streams from the hills it descends to the plain – https://pixabay.com/photos/wilderness-river-mountains-nature-5381117/
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain – https://pixabay.com/photos/pine-pinus-needle-leaves-drop-dew-3127210/
Leave a Reply