God: Saviour, Creator, Provider

Appetiser

The way we’ll look at this psalm today is by beginning where the Psalmist (David) ends, in order to show why he begins where he does. Hopefully that way every bite of bread may become an occasion for thanksgiving for even more than food itself.

Main Course

God is good to the earth

God controls the rain, v9-10

caring for the land

providing for its inhabitants

v10 reminds us Day 3 (Tuesday) of Creation Week, cf. Genesis 1:11-12: “Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.’ And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.”

He gladdens the land, v11-13. These verses can be read like joy springing from salvation, especially v13—why?

“for so you have ordained it”, v9 cf. Genesis 8:22

Genesis 8:22 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

‘As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.’

The fact that the earth functions largely as it did on Tuesday of Creation Week is because God saved it from utter destruction by the Flood.

The agricultural rhythm, the presence of food is a constant witness to this

Why does God care for the earth so much?

God rules the earth—and everyone on it

The Creator subdued the Flood, v6-7

The Creator subdued wickedness, v7: “and the turmoil of the nations”

Why did the Flood come? Genesis 6:11-13, 17. Humanity rose up against their Creator by flooding the world with evil.

So how come we’re still here? Genesis 6:18-22. Because God had mercy on righteous Noah, and through him saved the world.

This is why God is “the hope of all the ends of the earth”, v5, 8

v8 highlights that God is active in performing His deeds, “wonders”, today:

that is why we have food to eat

that is why the world is not overrun by evil

There is no other Saviour for mankind, but God

Every drop of rain, every seed of corn is a reminder of that. These are the acts of providence of the Creator God, Saviour of the world.

But who did God save? Those who have turned to Him for salvation.

Only those with Noah in the ark were saved. The rest perished.

Those who did not enter the ark enjoyed God’s goodness until the Flood. Genesis 1:29-30

Genesis 1:29–30 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.’ And it was so.

The “awesome and righteous deeds”, God’s “wonders” in creation and providence then suddenly turned against them, even as those in the ark rejoiced over their salvation.

v8 also envisions a world filled with God-fearing people. They are the ones, like Noah & co., who survived the Flood, and all over the world are glorifying their God.

Of course, you could say it is idillic—that’s not what is happening. All over the world people are busy not recognising and praising God for all His goodness.

But the Psalm is not idillic, but filled with faith-fuelled hope for the future. Because actually, God is making the world a v8 world.

God saves the earth for His people

The song of those who know God as their God

They are the people of Zion—where God reigns through His servant King David, TITLE-v1

They know His forgiveness, v3. They know that but for God’s grace, they would be deserve to be swept away, by the Flood of their sins.

They are chosen by God, as He chose Noah and His family, v4. They enjoy all His blessings; the greatest being that they know Him: “the good things of your house”.

But this Psalm is not simply a song from the past; it has everything to do with us, today. The Flood was pointing forward to The end, cf. Luke 17:26-27

Luke 17:26–27 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

‘Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

God keeps the world spinning, restraining evil, blessing it because of Zion: God’s people. He is currently patiently waiting, showering the world with His goodness

in order to give a witness of Himself to all people everywhere;

in order to make sure His chosen people are born, fed, cared for, and gathered in on that Day.

The post-flood world was enjoyable only to the Elect. The post-judgment world will be only for those in Christ. Today is the day of salvation, the time to come into the ark and be saved from the coming Flood of God’s wrath.

God’s provisions in this world are an anticipation of the greater blessing of the perfect world. 2 Peter 3:13

2 Peter 3:13 ESV

But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

The exclusive joys of the Redeemed now anticipate the fullness of fellowship with God then

in answered prayers, v2

in sins forgiven, v3

in fellowship with God, v4

in God’s provisions, v8, 12-13

Pudding

So let every drop of rain, every grain of corn, every morsel of bread be a reminder of God’s goodness and that a better world is coming for those who belong to Him.

Hear and heed the universal invitation: “all people”: that is, all who trust in Him. Have/will you?