NATURE
"1The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork."
- awesome mountains
- retreat at the river aka fishing
- hunting trip without a gun
- family skiing trip on weekends
LIGHT
"6Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat. "
- no mercy
- no secrets
- no hidden earmarks
- every Ponzi scheme is uncovered
- every murder investigation leads to an arrest
TORAH
"7The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul"
- Pentateuch
- Torah does not mean law, but direction, instruction
- Ten Commandments - Legal Tradition
- Jesus says Matthew 5.17: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill."
- Gezeirah: A Fence around the Torah
- Jesus says the overall direction of the Torah is love Matthew 22.37-39: ’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
SHADOWS
"12But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults."
- Even the most beautiful tree makes a shadow
- Nature does not know mercy: Survival of the fittest
- Light does not know mercy: Unveils inconvenient truths
- The Torah teaches us find our hidden faults
SUMMARY
- Nature is beautiful but cruel
- The Torah is strict but sweet
- The overall intention is love, that all may life under the beautiful firmament that proclaims the handiwork of our God. Amen.
