Week 38 - Tim White - Early Morning Musings

I’ve always been a morning person. Earlier today around 4:30 AM, I took my German Shepherd outside and sat on the back deck in the quiet, pitch-black morning. As we sat together looking up at the moon and the stars, a few passages from the Book of Psalms came to my mind.

It hit me while sitting there: King David—around 3,000 years ago—was looking at those exact same stars and the very same moon. Whether he was out in the fields as a shepherd or later reigning as king, he stared up at the sky and wrote some of the most beautiful poetry in history.

Here are the scriptures I was reflecting on during that quiet time:

1. Psalm 8 (TLB)

David likely penned this psalm back when he was still a young shepherd. It opens and closes with praise for God's glory filling the earth, but verse 3 and 4 really stop you in your tracks:> "When I look up into the night skies and see the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you have made, I cannot understand how you can bother with mere puny man to pay any attention to him."

It's incredible to think that when God created everything, He literally spoke all of those stars into existence. It blows me away every time. Yet, despite the vastness of space, He crowned mankind with glory and placed us in authority over His creation.

2. Psalm 19:1–6 (NLT)

Written later in David's life, likely when he was king, this psalm reflects on how nature silently proclaims its Creator.> "The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship... They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth..."

As I sit outside and watch the sunrise, the brilliant colors preceding the sun—pinks, yellows, oranges, and reds—reflect off the clouds. To me, those morning sunrises (and evening sunsets) are like a teeny-tiny taste of how breathtakingly beautiful heaven is going to be.

3. Psalm 147:4–5 (NLT)

The last verses I reflected on state: "He counts the stars and he calls them all by name. How great is our Lord\! His power is absolute; his understanding is beyond comprehension."

We can't even see most of the stars with our bare eyes, yet God knows each one and calls them all by name. If He cares that much for the stars, think about how much more He loves each and every one of us with an indescribable, uncontainable love.

Next time you’re sitting outside in the quiet hours worshiping, try putting on the song "So Will I". It’s a wonderful track to listen to while taking in the night sky.

Have a great day, everyone!