The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

One of many anonymous poems in the Psalter, this one celebrates evidence of God’s creative activity in the natural world, particularly in verses 5–7. While people of antiquity typically identified nature with individual gods and goddesses, scriptural writers viewed natural phenomena as God’s handiwork. A commentary suggests: “For them, nature was always ‘creation.’ The word nature . . . implies that the world has its own sense of being, its own power, and its own dynamic. On the other hand, the word creation is a term of faith.”

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! . . . They cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. . . . They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. . . . He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. . . . He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; and sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; . . . Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.