Connect Psalm 65:12 with Genesis 1:31 on God's creation being "very good." Opening the Passages Together “The pastures of the wilderness overflow; the hills are robed with joy.” (Psalm 65:12) “God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31) Seeing the Same Hand at Work • Genesis shows the first unveiling of creation; Psalm 65 celebrates that same creation still overflowing with life. • Both verses place the spotlight on God’s direct, intentional action—He made, He looked, He still sustains. • The word “overflow” in Psalm 65:12 mirrors the verdict “very good” in Genesis 1:31; each signals abundance with no hint of deficiency. Tracing the Thread of Abundant Goodness 1. Creation’s Birth (Genesis 1:1–31) – Six literal days of forming and filling. – Culmination: “very good”—wholly complete, lacking nothing. 2. Creation’s Ongoing Praise (Psalm 65:9–13) – God waters, enriches, crowns the year. – Result: pastures “overflow,” hills “robed with joy,” flocks and grain shout for joy (v.13). 3. Creation’s Present Testimony (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20) – Heavens still declare His glory; His invisible qualities are “clearly seen.” 4. Creation’s Future Renewal (Romans 8:19–21; Revelation 21:1–5) – Groaning now, yet destined for liberation and a new earth where goodness is restored in full. What “Very Good” Still Means Today • Stability: Seasons continue because the Creator upholds what He declared good (Genesis 8:22; Colossians 1:17). • Provision: Every harvest, rainfall, and sunrise echoes Genesis 1:31 (James 1:17). • Delight: Enjoying beauty—mountain vistas, bird-song, star-filled skies—is rightful worship, not indulgence (Psalm 104:24). • Stewardship: If God calls creation “very good,” caring for it honors Him (Proverbs 12:10). Living Out the Overflow • Acknowledge God’s hand whenever creation meets a need or stirs wonder. • Speak of His goodness to others, linking the beauty they see to the God who made it. • Practice gratitude before meals, during hikes, while gardening—every setting becomes a reminder of Genesis 1:31. • Guard against despair when the world shows brokenness; the same God who authored “very good” promises final restoration. Closing Thought Genesis 1:31 plants the seed of divine approval; Psalm 65:12 shows the bloom of that seed across the hills and pastures. From first dawn to this very moment, creation keeps singing one unbroken refrain: God’s work is still, unmistakably, “very good.” |
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