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Painting of The Nature Psalms
by Irv Davis

To the Psalmist, nature was the manifestation of the hand of God.

psalmnature.gif (62127 bytes)
Nature Psalms 19 and 104
© 2000 Graphic by Irv Davis

Looking at the many stars above and the diversity of life all around was proof that there was a creator, a God that created all the beauty and diversity.  Nature in its grandeur and diversity was the creation of God and proved the existence of God according to the Psalmists.

While Nature is mentioned in many of the Psalms, Psalm 19 and 104 both describe its beauty and diversity.

Psalm19 opens with the powerful declaration:

The heavens describe the glory of God,
And the firmament showest his handiwork.

This is found on the left side of the painting. The Psalm continues:

In them hath He set a tent for the sun,
Which as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
And rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

This metaphor pictures the sun as a bridegroom rushing across the
heavens to his bride and giving life to the earth below. The sun is a
symbol of light that gives growth and fertility.

Psalm 104 focuses on water, the other aspect of nature that gives life and fertility.

Who sendest forth the springs into the valleys,
They run between the mountains;
They give drink to every beast of the field,
The wild asses quench their thirst,
Besides them dwell the fowl of the heavens,
From among the branches they sing.

This is shown in the painting on the right that shows a spring coming down from the mountains with all kinds of animals - lions, reptiles, wild asses, water birds, insects and all types of birds perched in the branches of trees. The Psalm continues:

Who waterest the mountains from thine upper chambers; The earth is full of thy works.

back to Psalm Art Home

 

~ Lisa Katz

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