By Jeremy Bell
I am going to highlight theocentric perspective using Psalm 104 as well as the connection to it from Hebrews, Mark, and Matthew. All scripture is God breathed, written through His uniquely made people. People use it to learn to be people of God. Scripture is NOT people breathed to uniquely create God. Theocentric perspective is simply believing that God reveals, and people understand. It rejects that people understand and reveal to themselves, God.
Working and Getting Better
Livestock eat grass to live. More than grass, fruit bearing plants thrive for the farmer to cultivate and enjoy too. The fruit of the grape vine is harvested, fermented, and fine (and not so fine) wine is produced that people use to celebrate. The oil from various seeds and fruits is extracted for healthy skin, shiny hair, and even massage. Wheat is used for making bread, food to survive. To get the best grass for the livestock, the best fruit for the wine, and the best grain for our breads and cereals, we have studied and detailed every possible thing there is to study in these plants. We even find ways to genetically alter them to make them last longer and look shinier.
We’re not done, we’re still studying. Droughts, fires, and locusts are quick things that come to mind that can destroy a whole year’s worth of crops. There are even storage places around the world for worst case scenarios that store plant genes and seeds in case the world as we know it destroys all plant life, or if humans make plants radioactive or alter the nutrients out of them. People can optimize, but they are never in control in totality.
Taking Transactions for Granted
As an eater, I take it for granted that people will figure out how to produce food for me in any circumstance. I trust in the skill and knowledge of humans to keep me alive. Partly, I do this because of my part in the scheme of society. I am no farmer, but I work. My labor is traded for money and my money is traded for food that had been traded for money by the farmer who produced the food. When I am short on money, I get concerned that I won’t be able to eat. Jesus said seek first the kingdom of God and the true God, who is in control in totality, will give you what you need. Clothing, and food. This seems silly and reckless. That is, it is until I think some things through.
Assumptions
My first ignorance and failing is in my own observances. I admit that there are a number of things outside being in control of humans that can make plant life die or fail to grow, even in the hands of the farmer and scientists. This is a dangerous thing for me, not just to assume that people will take care of me, but that they have ultimate authority and power to do it. My second failing is in assigning correct processes, authorities, and credits. It’s true, people are smart, they study, and the work. They plant, they water, and they harvest. But they do not hold all processes and the very act of life and growing in the palm of their hands. God does.
Jesus told a parable, here it is as recorded in Mark 4: 26-29. ‘God’s Kingdom is as if a man should cast seed on the earth, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, though he doesn’t know how. For the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.’
The farmer gets to work, but God is in control. Check out these motif groupings from Psalm 104.
When I assign God the credit of springing up the seed and growing it, it becomes easier to see why Jesus said don’t worry about what you’re going to eat, as long as you seek first the kingdom of God. Don’t misunderstand, it’s not always easy living in this truth, but it is truth. God puts us to work, but He provides and takes care of His creation including living things. Trusting in the truth does make it easier over time.
In my motif analysis, Psalm 104 is in Verse Pre/Post form. This Psalm is primarily a verse structure that contains the primary ideas and is surrounded by a prelude and postlude. A verse is one idea that still has a breakdown of pattern, but those patterns are contained in one idea. Just like a story often has a prelude to get the setting in place, so this is used here as well. A postlude summarizes and/or finishes the entirety of the idea conveyed.
Hopefully that gives some perspective and something to consider while preparing to hear or read this Psalm. It is by no means the only perspective or consideration, just the one right now. So… without further hesitation, here is Psalm 104 and selections from Hebrews, Mark, and Matthew. This is grouped by motif patterns that are color coded in my book, Psalms in Motif Visualization.
[ Psalm 104 ]
Bless Yahweh, my soul.
Yahweh, my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honor and majesty.
He covers himself with light as with a garment.
He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.
He lays the beams of his rooms in the waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot.
He walks on the wings of the wind.
He makes his messengers winds,
and his servants flames of fire.
He laid the foundations of the earth,
that it should not be moved forever.
You covered it with the deep as with a cloak.
The waters stood above the mountains.
At your rebuke they fled.
At the voice of your thunder they hurried away.
The mountains rose,
the valleys sank down,
to the place which you had assigned to them.
You have set a boundary that they may not pass over,
that they don’t turn again to cover the earth.
He sends springs into the valleys.
They run among the mountains.
They give drink to every animal of the field.
The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
The birds of the sky nest by them.
They sing among the branches.
He waters the mountains from his rooms.
The earth is filled with the fruit of your works.
He causes the grass to grow for the livestock,
and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may produce food out of the earth:
wine that makes the heart of man glad,
oil to make his face to shine,
and bread that strengthens man’s heart.
Yahweh’s trees are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted,
where the birds make their nests.
The stork makes its home in the cypress trees.
The high mountains are for the wild goats.
The rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
He appointed the moon for seasons.
The sun knows when to set.
You make darkness, and it is night,
in which all the animals of the forest prowl.
The young lions roar after their prey,
and seek their food from God.
The sun rises, and they steal away,
and lie down in their dens.
Man goes out to his work,
to his labor until the evening.
Yahweh, how many are your works!
In wisdom, you have made them all.
The earth is full of your riches.
There is the sea, great and wide,
in which are innumerable living things,
both small and large animals.
There the ships go,
and leviathan, whom you formed to play there.
These all wait for you,
that you may give them their food in due season.
You give to them; they gather.
You open your hand; they are satisfied with good.
You hide your face; they are troubled.
You take away their breath; they die and return to the dust.
You send out your Spirit and they are created.
You renew the face of the ground.
Let Yahweh’s glory endure forever.
Let Yahweh rejoice in his works.
He looks at the earth, and it trembles.
He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
I will sing to Yahweh as long as I live.
I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.
Let my meditation be sweet to him.
I will rejoice in Yahweh.
Let sinners be consumed out of the earth.
Let the wicked be no more.
Bless Yahweh, my soul.
Praise Yah!
[ Hebrews 1: 6 – 12 ]
When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.” Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his servants a flame of fire.”
But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”
And,
“You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth.
The heavens are the works of your hands.
They will perish, but you continue.
They all will grow old like a garment does.
You will roll them up like a mantle,
and they will be changed;
but you are the same.
Your years won’t fail.”
[ Mark 4: 35 – 41 ]
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.” Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him. A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled.
He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?” He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?” They were greatly afraid, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
[ Matthew 25: 31 – 46 ]
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ “Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’ “Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Working and Growing Differences
The farmer will harvest often forgetting they do not grow; they are not in control of everything. When things go wrong, in todays’ culture, we look to ourselves to fix it. Climate change is real, and it may even be threatening human life. We look to scientists and devise ways to separate trash to change the climate. To lower the temperature, regulate flooding or drought, and even work towards ending global hunger. These are all ways to work to do the things God does. We want to be in control rather than trust Him and go to Him. Perhaps this is why they aren’t working out so well. More than that, we don’t give God glory or praise for what He has done, for what He has provided. We then get angry thinking that God would find this offensive and withhold His provision.
God gives; living things that’s us; that’s the farmer, gather. Life dies, God renews. There is an order, and it is beautiful. What’s even more beautiful is that God has put people in a position to share in His plans. To be sure, in this life, God orchestrates everything according to His plans. He is in control.
Part of His plan right now is that all should come to Him through faith in His Son, Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior. In this way, He will have relationship with these people forever as His glory is magnified to all of creation for all of time, even magnified through His people! The beauty we receive from God now, the beauty we witness now in nature is just a shadow of the things to come. God has provided salvation to people and to endure in Jesus as that salvation to the end, is to endure in the Nature of Joy.
Resources and Notes
All scripture in this article is from the WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE (WEB). The World English Bible (WEB) is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament.
For more related to this blog, check out my post on Practical Life Strategy Steps Created in Root Cause Abundance.
This is a reliable translation, but it is always good to read other translations as well. Biblegateway.com has a multitude of translations to read from. It is a great resource.
Another great resource is Biblehub.com. There are multiple translations, commentaries, and so much more. Great research can be done on this platform.
One more I use regularly is Gotquestions.org. This is a great site to answer questions and find threads of related questions.
There are many resources. The key is that God wants relationship directly with you, the individual. His primary source for revealing who He is and growing in intimacy is His word, the scriptures. Don’t just read for instruction. Analyze and read for understanding. Explore, ask questions, and be transformed in Jesus every moment you possibly can. There is no dispute this is a key desire of God. People are brough to the Father, in the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. This… This is the Nature of Joy.
Jeremy is an author, musician, and business intelligence manager. His mission is to equip and encourage those in Christ, to equip and encourage others in Christ. Jesus, Christ, is the Nature of Joy and melody of the heart. Jeremy unites business analytics (business intelligence), songs, and Scripture for Christian living in the power of the Holy Spirit.