Psalm 104:12

Psalm 104:12

The birds of the sky

Having been an avid birdwatcher for 50 years I might be excused for taking time out to enjoy this verse. I mean it’s pretty straightforward, isn’t it? Birds nest where there is water, and they like to sing from the branches of trees. End of! Well, not quite.

Firstly, note that they are referred to as the birds of the sky. These winged creatures are equipped to enter and inhabit a domain from which man is excluded. The previous verses have reminded us of the vault that separates the waters above the earth and those beneath. Man is very much rooted to the land, yes, we have aircraft today but as human beings we cannot fly. The waters above are therefore the sole habitat of the avian creation and in that sense, they have the unique ability to approach closer to the God of the heavens than we do, to bridge the gap between heaven and earth. Hence it is no surprise to learn that when skylarks rise up into the air in spring and summer, they sing songs of such complexity and beauty that they are beyond human understanding and reproduction. One scientific experiment concluded that a skylark produces more original music in 5 minutes than Beethoven did in a lifetime! Sadly, the notes produced by that bird are outside the scope of human hearing. This symphony of praise is rising up from the earth 24/7 across the world. Hallelujah!

Of course most birds nest where there is water, they need it just as we do and the Creator has made sure that there are streams and rivers and lakes and seas where vegetation grows, and where suitable nesting places may be found by each, individual species. These same creatures, many of them so small that they weigh only a few grams, then sing their hearts out to their Creator and most human beings barely notice. We cannot enter their domain but, believe me, they are as much part of God’s creation as we are. How sad that we live in a world that gives them so little thought as we continue to tear up their habitats and care little as their numbers are dramatically decreasing. It’s as if they were optional extras! 

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