God's love and faithfulness are as vast as the sky and as solid as the mountains.
“Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.”Psalm 36:5-6 (KJV)
What does “Reaching the clouds” mean in Psalm 36:5-6?
David uses the biggest pictures he knows: the heavens, the clouds, the great mountains, and the deep sea. Each one shows that God's character is beyond measure.
Going deeper
David piles up images. Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Then, Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep. Mercy as high as the sky, righteousness as firm as a mountain range, and justice as deep as the ocean. These are not small qualities. They are the very nature of God, and they reach further than we can see, from the highest heights to the deepest depths.
It is easy to shrink God down to the size of our problems. This psalm enlarges Him again. When you feel that your situation is too big, look up at the sky and remember that His faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. When you feel unworthy, remember that His mercy is as wide as the heavens. Try spending a few minutes outside today, looking at something vast, and letting it remind you of who God is. Your troubles are real, but He is greater.
Reflect
What vast thing in creation could remind you today of the greatness of God's faithfulness?
Pray
Lord, Your mercy is in the heavens and Your faithfulness reaches the clouds. Enlarge my view of You, and help me trust You in what feels too big. In Jesus' name, amen.
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