So, this morning there’s a lot that one could write on. In Exodus 35 I read of God stirring the hearts of His people such that they gave back to God more than enough material for the building of the tabernacle. In Matthew 16 I read of Peter’s great confession declaring His Master to be “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:16). In Acts 22 Paul testifies before a hostile crowd of how Jesus intercepted him on the road to Damascus . . . how that God had chosen Paul to know His will . . . to see the Just One . . . and to hear the voice of His mouth (Acts 22:14) . . . and I can’t help but think, “Me too!” Oh, there are thoughts to be thought and words to be penned on each of those passages, but then I read Psalm 36 . . .

You want to talk about a big God?!? You want to bask in blessing?!? Then the middle verses of Psalm 36 are for you. And, although The Message doesn’t always do it for me, Peterson’s interpretation here seems to express the impression this portion of Scripture is intended to leave:

“God’s love is meteoric, His loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, His verdicts oceanic. Yet in His largeness nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks. How exquisite Your love, O God! How eager we are to run under Your wings, to eat our fill at the banquet You spread as You fill our tankards with Eden spring water. You’re a fountain of cascading light, and You open our eyes to light. Keep on loving Your friends; do your work in welcoming hearts.” (Ps. 36:5-10 MSG)

Everything in these few verses is big . . . overflowing . . . chew on it for a while, and it’s overwhelming.

His love reaches to the heavens . . . His faithfulness reaches to the sky . . . His righteousness is like a mighty mountain . . . His justices is like an ocean’s tide. Great lyrics for a song, huh? (check out Third Day’s “Your Love Oh Lord” ).

And there’s more . . . that love is unfailing and precious and priceless . . . big enough for all the children of men to find refuge under the shadow of His gracious all encompassing wing. And there is feasting in abundance at His table . . . no end to the good things He offers to those who will come and dine — and I’m not thinking of material good things . . . or things-are-going-my-way good things . . . but the sort of good things that fill the inner man and satisfy the very soul. And after eating it says in my Bible, “You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures” (36:8). Not a sippy cup . . . not a tap . . . not a stream . . . not even a fire hose . . . but a river. For those who come to Him with their thirst, there is a river to drink deeply from . . . literally it is His “eden” of delights. And its source is God Himself . . . He is the fountain of life . . . He is the satisfier or soul thirst (36:9). “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good” (35:8).

How big are His blessings? How abundant is His provision? How satisfied can our souls be? So big! . . . So abundant! . . . So satisfied!

And it all transcends circumstance. None of it depends on what’s going on around me. And none of it is dependent upon whether I’m worthy of it or not (and I’m not). Mine is to seek out the shadow of that great big wing . . . mine is to trust . . . to believe that His love reaches to the heavens . . . His faithfulness to the skies . . . that His righteousness is like a mighty mountain . . . and His justice is as deep as an ocean (did I already mention you should check our “Your Love Oh Lord”). Mine is to come to the table expecting to be fed . . . mine is to open wide my mouth assured that the river will flow.

And after just a few moments of meditating on such wondrous provision . . . after a couple of minutes of trying to take in the glories and mercies of my God . . . how can I not say, “Thank you.” How can I not praise Him . . . and worship Him!

And I will lift my voice to worship You, my King . . . and I will find my strength, in the shadow of Your wings!

(If I haven’t mentioned it already, now would be a really good time to listen to Third Day’s song )