Title: God's Hand in Nature
God's hand in nature
Text/ Psalm 104; 1-35
1. Introduction
Ludwig van Bethobeen (1770-1827) said, “Nature = countryside is the home of all art. Nature = Trees that stand in a garden seem to say, “All trees are holy and holy.” Who can express the breathtaking ecstasy of this forest! The world order can also be found in the laws of nature. Because nature is moving with God's supreme intelligence....Why am I composing? This is because I want to reveal the vibration of life that resonates in my heart. That is why I want to rekindle the flame in the minds of those who listen to that music.”
I think today's text can be understood more grandly and more deeply when reading while listening to music such as Beethoven's “Symphony No. 6 in F major, op.
2. Structure of Psalm 104
The text is the form of an individual hymn, praising God's hand in nature. The text will be read in three parts: <104:1-9>, <104:10-26>, and <104:27-35>. The writer of Psalm 104 describes this world created by God from a cosmic view of the ancient world, excluding any philosophical-theological commentary, and very calmly and without title, and the taste is very plain and good.
104:1-9, The nature of the heavens, the earth, and the earth created by God was not randomly created, but was created in an orderly manner as determined by God's supreme wisdom. He established the earth as a foundation so that it would not be moved forever, and He divided the land and the sea and defined the boundaries so that they would not invade each other.
104:10-26 Gives every living thing that lives on the land a place to live and provides food for us, especially for us wine to please the heart, oil to refresh the face, and oil to strengthen the heart. You gave me the form. And when the sun goes down, wild animals are looking for food, and when the sun rises, they go into their dens, and when the sun rises, people get up to work, and when the sun goes down, they sleep in their houses. This is to allow animals and humans to coexist in different time zones.
104:27-35, In this beautiful nature created by God, humans and all living things grow and multiply by God's grace in their respective habitats, and when the time comes, God takes their breath away, and both humans and animals have their original nature. It will return to the dust in its place. And God is renewing the earth with new life forms.
3. God's hand in nature
first. There is an opinion that the Bible and modern science contradict each other. In my opinion, not at all. My basic position is that it should be viewed as a complementary relationship rather than a contradiction. Because I think Isaac Newton's words, "The scientific achievements I have discovered and discovered are nothing more than turning over a few of the many seashells that God created on the seashore," are still valid, even forever.
In the meantime, what modern science has uncovered through research on nature-space-human: Big Bang Theory-Energy Law-Genome Map-Nanotechnology-Computer Engineering-Gravity Field-Magnetic Field-Electric Field-Dimensional Field-Quantum Physics-Genetic Engineering-Agricultural Technology Revolution - It is truly amazing and great, such as the medical technology revolution. However, all of these are the few discoveries of God's hand in nature. We humans cannot fully understand the touch of God in nature until we see God face to face.
second. Verse 24 says, “O Lord, how many are your works. In wisdom you have made them all; your riches fill the earth.” He said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Genesis 1:28). Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947), who developed the philosophy of organisms, said that all beings in the world, whether living or non-living, have an organic relationship with each other, and the purpose of human life as an organism is “to live. to live”, and “to live well” and “to live better.”
Humans should make the best use of the wisdom of modern science that God has given them to better examine the hand of God in nature and strive to make the world a better place.
third. Discovering the hand of God in nature is not limited to the natural sciences, but also applies to religion, art, humanities, mental sciences, and spiritual sciences. Considering the global problems facing our time today (clash of cultures-civilizations, conflicts between religions, wars between nations and nations, races-human rights-hunger issues, structural contradictions between the first and third worlds, etc.) Rather, I think the latter is more important. It is highly likely that religion, art, humanities, mental science, and psychic science will provide the solution, not natural science, that can reconcile all human-to-human conflicts - anger - war - violence - inhuman behavior. because of.
Today's psalmist is very positively aware of God's hand in nature. He said, “I will sing to the Lord all the days of my life; I will praise my God as long as I live” (Psalm 104:33). I pray in the name of the Lord that this hymn by the psalmist will become an eternal and existential confession of faith for all of us. Hallelujah!