Clothed in Splendor and Majesty

Sometimes, I think I want God to speak to me through a burning bush.

This perfectionist Type A overachiever might crave the clarity that arrives like a thunderbolt with a direct line from heaven. (But ... please God, I don't want to get burned.)

Then there are days when I realize that God is talking to me. I may not hear His voice booming with authority from the heavens. But I hear Him nonetheless.

I've been doing a "read the Bible in a year" devotional. I get up early and read the passages. This morning, as I finished, I went to get another cup of coffee before I went downstairs to start working. I saw beautiful light peeking above the treetops outside my northeast kitchen window. The scene of sun-kissed clouds beckoned me to leave the coffee on the kitchen counter and drive down the road,to witness the sunrise in person.

The Bible study I'm doing is The Daily Message: Through the Bible in One Year by Eugene Peterson. (I know there are fundamentalists who don't like that translation of the Bible, but I figured reading in more common language might help me stick with the program. So far, it's been working.)

There's another reason I like it: It doesn't just start in the Old Testament and work its way to Revelation. To avoid getting bogged down in all the unfamiliar names and laws of the Old Testament readings, Peterson weaves together readings that may feature Old Testament chapters for a few days, then some New Testament readings. Every day, there's a Psalm or Proverbs to read to conclude, along with a couple of questions to think about.

I'm actually ahead on my readings, which is a good thing. Then, if I am gone or miss a day for some reason, I don't fall behind.

Anyway, I concluded the August 3 reading this morning, and the final passage was Psalms 104: 1-23. I couldn't help but think of the words I'd just read when I drove down to the oil field road and stepped out of the car to experience the sunrise:

Psalm 104

¹ Praise the Lord, my soul.

Lord my God, you are very great;
    you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

² The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment;
    he stretches out the heavens like a tent
³     and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
    and rides on the wings of the wind.
⁴ He makes winds his messengers,
    flames of fire his servants. ...

Scattered raindrops were falling and our neighbor's milo was rustling in the wind, and I thought about the question at the conclusion of the reading:

What is your favorite aspect of creation? Why?

Exhibit A, folks!
Thank you, God!