Don’t Blow Your Top
By Pastor Mitch
September 20, 2015
Picture A
Picture B
Source (Pic B)
Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Gobal Vocalnism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=263340 (Accessed 28 May 2015)
“DON’T BLOW YOUR TOP”
Mount Raung, a volcano, is the tallest peak that you see in the blue-filtered picture (Picture A). It stands at 10, 932 feet tall and has a 2km wide and 500m deep caldera. It is one of the most active volcanoes on the island of Java in Indonesia. Volcanoes, according to Wikipedia, are formed when magma from within the Earth’s upper mantle works its way to the surface. At the surface, it erupts to form lava flows and ash deposits. Over time as the volcano continues to erupt, it will get bigger and bigger. The latest crater incandescence and rumbling at Mt Raung was reported between April-May 2015. Grey-brown emission rose as high as 300 m above the crater rim as seen in picture B taken by the Indonesian Geological authority. Indonesia has 877 mountains, of which 150 of them are volcanos. These many volcanos formed part of the Pacific ring of fire. Picture A was taken by me from the shores of the island of Bali. I was glad that “Mr Raung” did not decide to blow his top during my quiet stay there.
HE TOUCHES THE HILLS AND THEY SMOKE
“May the glory of the Lord endure forever. May the Lord rejoices in His works. He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the hills and they smoke.” -Psalm 104:31-32
Did you know that the Bible mentions Volcanos? There is onemention in the text of Psalm 104. Psalm 104 was written by the Psalmist in dedication to the Lord’s glory and creation. There is tremendous sovereignty and greatness in the Lord’s work of creating our planet. It was the Lord who laid the foundation of the earth that it would not be moved. He set boundaries to the sea and there is the daily provision of water and food for animals and mankind. The glory of the Lord is highlighted in verses 31 and 32 when the Lord looked on the earth and it trembled. All that the Lord needed to do was to stare at the earth and it would tremble like a volcano erupting. He touched the hills and smoke began to rise from them as a volcano would. This is truly amazing. All God needed to do was touch the hills and nature rumbles and the hills or volcanos pour out smoke and ash. Certainly, this is the glory of God. Seeing how nature respond to God’s touch should bring a deep desire within our heart to sing and praise Him (Psalm 104:33). Even as the Lord rejoices in His works, we too should rejoice in His works. Let’s respond with greater zeal to give praise to Him for His works.
