Psalm 104:20-30 - Bird Food and Lion Chow

The other day I was driving past an empty field. Remnants of corn stalks poked up through the snow. Above the field, a hundred yards away, was a bald eagle. I've seen eagles fly; I've seen eagles soar. But this one was barely moving its wings, hovering almost motionless in the air.

I assume the eagle was eyeing its next meal, maybe a field mouse. It reminded me of Psalm 140. People are listed right along with lions and whales. This is a great! Listen to this:

"20 [God,] You send the darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about. 21 Then the young lions roar for their prey, stalking the food provided by God. 22 At dawn they slink back into their dens to rest. 23 Then people go off to their work, where they labor until evening. 24 O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. 25 Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small. 26 See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea. 27 They all depend on you to give them food as they need it. 28 When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied. 29 But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust. 30 When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth."
(Psalm 104:20–30, New Living Translation) 

Even the animals that seem most capable of finding their own food can only do so as God gives them life and breath. We think we're pretty self-sufficient if we "go off to work," earn an income, and buy groceries. By listing us with the animals, the Psalmist reminds us that we are just as dependent on God as lions who "roar for their prey" ...or an eagle that hovers over a snow-covered field.

So Jesus taught us to pray:
Our Father in heaven... Give us this day our daily bread. Amen.