They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.Â
Psalm 107:4-9
Everything that God has made fulfills His purpose. Despite the effects of sin on the world and the devastation that wrought on Creation, obedience to God’s direction still guides the natural world. The sun does not need to be reminded to declare God’s glory across the globe. The moon and stars do not need a supervisor standing over them to ensure they proclaim God’s faithfulness. The birds do not need a choir director to keep them singing. Yet over and over again God’s people, the ones for whom He has done so much because of His grace alone, fail to praise Him and must be reminded and instructed again and again. It is a disgraceful failure for God’s children to fail to praise Him.
The list of things for which we can and should be grateful is longer than we could ever exhaust. If we “count our blessings” as the old song said we would never finish before we reach eternity. Every good thing we have is a result of the grace of God, and every good thing we have should inspire us to praise Him more. Charles Spurgeon said, “Doth not all nature around me praise God? If I were silent, I should be an exception to the universe. Doth not the thunder praise Him as it rolls like drums in the march of the God of armies? Do not the mountains praise Him when the woods upon their summits wave in adoration? Doth not the lightning write His name in letters of fire? Hath not the whole earth a voice? And shall I, can I, silent be?”
