Psalms 147:9. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
The very best illustration of that verse is to be found, I think, in crows going to bed at night. You may have heard their caws. White says, in his Natural History of Selborne, that a little child said in his hearing, "Hark, father, the rooks are saying their prayers." It does seem something like it; and I believe David had heard it, and that is why he put it here: "the young ravens which cry," for those strange birds, rooks, crows, ravens, and the like, even with their wild cries, do speak to God. Who can listen to the birds in the early morning without feeling ashamed of himself for not singing more to the praise of God? Some of the feathered songsters lift up their voices even in the night; the nightingale charms the hours of darkness, and should not we sing unto God when all nature rings with his praise? "He giveth to the beast his food." Any of you who are in great distress may pray to God, "Lord, feed me, for thou givest even to the beast his food." Do any of you need spiritual food? Cry to him to feed you, for he giveth even to the beast his food. Are you not much better than many animals? I remember "Father Taylor" once saying to himself, and then writing it, "I am in distress just now, and full of doubts: but what am I at? When the great whale goes through the deep, the Almighty Father gives him a ton of herrings for his breakfast, and never misses them; surely he can feed me." Assuredly he can; he can give to all of us all that we need.
Psalms 147:9. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
The very best illustration of that verse is to be found, I think, in crows going to bed at night. You may have heard their caws. White says, in his Natural History of Selborne, that a little child said in his hearing, "Hark, father, the rooks are saying their prayers." It does seem something like it; and I believe David had heard it, and that is why he put it here: "the young ravens which cry," for those strange birds, rooks, crows, ravens, and the like, even with their wild cries, do speak to God. Who can listen to the birds in the early morning without feeling ashamed of himself for not singing more to the praise of God? Some of the feathered songsters lift up their voices even in the night; the nightingale charms the hours of darkness, and should not we sing unto God when all nature rings with his praise? "He giveth to the beast his food." Any of you who are in great distress may pray to God, "Lord, feed me, for thou givest even to the beast his food." Do any of you need spiritual food? Cry to him to feed you, for he giveth even to the beast his food. Are you not much better than many animals? I remember "Father Taylor" once saying to himself, and then writing it, "I am in distress just now, and full of doubts: but what am I at? When the great whale goes through the deep, the Almighty Father gives him a ton of herrings for his breakfast, and never misses them; surely he can feed me." Assuredly he can; he can give to all of us all that we need.