Reading: Psalm 98

Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

Reflection

As I read this psalm, I am reminded that is not only humans who rejoice and sing praises to God, but all of creation. We often think of fall as a time for the sense of sight, as we see the beauty in the changes all around us; but even fall has its specific sounds. When we hear the roar of the waves pounding the shorelines, the bull elk bugling, the dried leaves of the trees rustling, or a perching owl hooting in the night; these are the sounds of praise to the glory of God. Sounds remind us that all of creation is a living part of God’s world. And the psalmist reminds us that the gifts God showers upon his creation are not just for humanity, but for all of God’s beautiful creation.

–Karla Leiby

Prayer

Glorious Creator, we give thanks for all the ways that the earth sings your praises! Keep us ever mindful that we share this bountiful earth with all that you created and teach us all to make a joyful noise in harmony with one another to your glory.

Amen.