Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

Lectionary: 457/650

...how can a man be justified before God?
Should one wish to contend with him,
he could not answer him once in a thousand times.
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength;
who has withstood him and remained unscathed?

Job's question appears to our world in a severely modified form but is nonetheless recognizably the same: Where do we stand in the vast scheme of things? Scientists attempt to probe the limits of the universe, using tools limited by their being mostly earthbound or within earth and solar orbits. They conclude that the universe is continually expanding without any foreseeable return. Only human imagination and unwarranted speculation can surpass those limits. But everyone agrees that the universe is incomprehensibly huge. As in HUGE!

The authors of our scriptures had no clever tools beyond their eyes but arrived at the same conclusion. Who can comprehend its dimensions? 

Of course, there are people who declare that the Lord of the Bible cannot be the Lord who created that Universe out of nothing since that God is so deeply concerned in human affairs. Although they admit it apparently started with nothing. But they don't pretend to offer a substitute for our God. The stars, planets, black holes and everything that is -- is happenstance. 

Nor are we much concerned about their skepticism. Because we hear...

The heavens [and the angels!] declare the glory of God;

the firmament proclaims the works of his hands.

Day unto day pours forth speech;

night unto night whispers knowledge.

There is no speech, no words;

their voice is not heard;

...He has pitched in them a tent for the sun;

it comes forth like a bridegroom from his canopy,

and like a hero joyfully runs its course.

From one end of the heavens it comes forth;

its course runs through to the other;

nothing escapes its heat.

We measure the Universe with musical instruments rather than scientific devices; and then we add "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord with all hearts" (Ephesians 5:19) And, unlike the skeptics, we know where we are in the universe, and that is right in the palm of God's lovely had. 

It works for us!