Day 17 - Verse 15

The eyes of all look hopefully to you and you give them their food in due season. Vs 15

David continues to illustrate the ways in which God demonstrates His supreme goodness
and compassion to all of creation.  This verse and the next speak so deeply of both the practical physical requirements to sustain life, and also the spiritual requirements to produce abundant life.

There is the sense of expectation, anticipation and patience in these words.  When we consider nature, I am reminded of Jesus words about the lilies of the field and the birds of the air in Matthew 6 and Luke 12.  He was encouraging his listeners that God knows our needs and will provide for them.

What a picture of trust to comfort us.  Animals depend completely on God, as it were.  They do not plant or harvest.  They do not build barns to store up food.  The young look to their parents for nourishment and protection.   Does it amaze you that animals survive the winter?  Or that among the endless variety of sea creatures each has its supply, some of it almost microscopic?

Among the members of the animal kingdom, they seek their food according to the instincts God gave them, and then take what the God of nature has provided for them in the time and way He has appointed, and are content with it.

Well, certainly there are times of abundance and times of lack based upon drought or floods.  It is the activity of man that has put many in jeopardy.

But, when David wrote this psalm, he observed a world much more wild, untamed and less abused and altered.  
Still, he illustrates for us a Nourishing Father God who is completely aware of the comings and goings of his creation.  He rules over the cycles of lives and seasons, and meets the needs of all, in His time, in His way.

Father, thank you for this picture of Your love.  Though we may question the times when we witness disaster or loss of life, you assure us that not a sparrow falls to the ground without your supervision, and that we are worth more than an infinite number of sparrows!  It is a comfort to know that our lives are in your loving and capable hands.  Amen.