God the Refuge – Psalm 36

A text – Psalm 36:5-10

⁵ Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
⁶ Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains; your judgments are like the great deep;
    you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.

⁷ How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
⁹ For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

¹⁰ O continue your steadfast love to those who know you and your salvation to the upright of heart!

A reflection:

Here is a psalm that delights in the deep generosity of the Lord. It might make us think of the Gospel lesson for the week, the story of the wedding at Cana where the Lord provided abundant wine for the celebration. God’s providing is like that, but also extends to the heavens and is as deep as the ocean. God saves humans and animals alike. The Lord’s abundance can be seen and felt everywhere, by everyone.

All of us go through weary times when God’s abundant blessings may be hard to see, or, if we see them, we don’t have the energy to appreciate them. Sometimes we are just tired and know we are neglecting our relationship with God. That is when we can read verse 7 with some appreciation: we may take refuge in the shadow of God’s wings. Or verse 9: in God’s light we see light.

Don’t worry – if you are weary, take shelter and rest under God’s wing and feel God’s light. And if you have energy, pray and praise. God is steadfast even though we change. God is good even when we’re not. And God is the fountain of life, even when we are weary or dying. God is giving us light and life for all eternity.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for being the source of light and life for us. When we are weary, sustain us under your wing. And when we full of energy, help us to remember to praise and thank you for all your generous gifts. Help us to share them with others. Amen.