Psalm 8 Part 8: Birds of the Heavens and Fish of the Sea
Psalm 8:8 - We have abundance and beauty in His creation
“The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.”
Psalms 8:8 NASB1995
Adding to the dominion that we have over the sheep and oxen and beasts, David notes that we also have authority over the birds of the heavens and the fish of the seas and whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
We both love seeing and hearing birds and we sometimes try amateur bird-watching and identification. It is estimated that there are over 10,000 species of birds on Earth, ranging from tiny hummingbirds to neighborhood song birds to exotic birds of paradise and finally to large and fearsome cassowaries and aggressive (and “bird-brained”) ostriches. Humans do, indeed, have dominion over these creatures. We have torn down their habitats and hunted some species to extinction, but fortunately more people now appreciate the variety and beauty of birds. God’s creation is truly breathtaking in so many respects.
The vast oceans of our world have wonderful creatures that pass through the paths that He created. Besides providing us with abundant food supplies, the seas are filled with beautiful and mysterious creatures. More than 90% of our oceans are completely unexplored and life has been found at the deepest depths, showing how God’s life will find a way. I used to love to snorkel when visiting the tropics and was always amazed at the variety, colors and sizes of the many creatures in a coral reef. We have also delighted in the splendor of seeing humpback whales in many places in the world, both in the tropics and the northern regions of Alaska and the Arctic North. God is a meticulous and careful designer of life in all of its diversity. Glory be to God!
My next devotional closes out the beautiful Psalm 8 with verse 9. Then I will tackle the New Testament again and start a devotional series of 1 Peter.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord - Your abundance of creation extends to the skies and the seas. We thank you for Your gift of life and the beauty you have created all around us. Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org