“Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy. You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.” (Psalm 65:8-13)
Imagine the gateways of the morning and evening, pastures, hills, meadows and valleys shouting and singing for joy! The Bible is full of the most vibrant images. This piece of scripture may not be familiar to you, but the hymn All Creatures of Our God and King is based on it. St. Francis of Assisi wrote it in the year 1225. All these centuries later we still resound to the refrain, “Sing praises, sing praises, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!”