Ted Haddock
Bloomington,
Indiana
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. They have no speech, there are no words; no sound is heard from them. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." Psalm 19:1-4
I've
wondered for some time whether these lines of David describe an
actual paradox or whether the poetry, in its wisdom, offers
something else. What should one do with a message that cannot be
heard? What sort of message could this be? As the psalmist
fashions an image where God's wisdom saturates the created order
with something of a song enfolding worlds both visible and
invisible, I begin to think that the reality he describes is a
thing so profound as to require what would seem contradictory
terms. Thus the nature of paradox begins giving shape to the
depth of its complexity.
But whether it's paradox or poetry or some form of both, the song rings true and lovely in those ears of the heart that fears and loves its Creator. And I suspect that these are the kinds of ears and the kinds of unspoken words Jesus was thinking of when He would say, "...he who has ears to hear, let him hear." Only there, beyond nature, should one hear the clarity of a message that cannot be heard. If I listen closely, the melody leads me on to a further thought - to consider my place in and my response to such an Order. It seems to sound a soothing call to release, an invitation to trust.
And it is there I begin to hear the voice of Jesus Himself, "See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." The song continues, "For whoever wants to save his life who lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." Perhaps these are the words - the silent words embedded in the skies - spoken into existence by the Artist, the Author, the Word himself. Their pleasant wisdom seeps deep to overcome the grip of a self-sufficient heart. The idea of surrender is perhaps the dissonant contradiction, but therein lies the beauty and wonder of real life, the paradox of the living Word. And in its embrace, I find a truth and comfort beyond my deepest longings.