Preliminary thoughts towards a performance of music related to creation

Humanity does not have a perfect record for caring for the land / earth, but it does have many positives too. The care exhibited e.g. for the local Orca and the cooperation between Washington State and BC is laudable. We should not get too discouraged though it may be too little too late. Even a little done well, e.g. the tiger management in Eastern Russia, will have multiplying effects.

I was looking for some work on ecology and the Scripture. What I saw on the web was pretty trivial and totally dependent on English translations already memorized - and maybe misleading.

I do think we must govern the world with more shrewdness than our nations have currently shown. But how would one read the instruction that shows that the land/earth (same word ארץ in Hebrew) is God's not ours? And what does that imply? That we should be irresponsible? hardly.

The first time we see "the earth/land is Yahweh's" in so many words, is in the story of the Exodus. Pharaoh is to be taught that he is not in charge.

Exodus 9:29 - note in the last three words to whom the land belongs

And Moses said to him, As I go forth from the city, I will spread my palm to Yahweh.
The rumblings will be set aside and there will not be any more hail, so that you may know that the earth is Yahweh's.

(It should be encouraging that everyone is taught knowledge - not just the chosen.)

The second occurrence of this phrase is in Psalm 24. (This is a key psalm).

Psalms 24:1, of David, a psalm.
The earth is Yahweh's and her fullness,
the world and those sitting in her.

Yet the earth has been given to the children of humanity. (Psalm 115 Non-nobis domine, a psalm that is paired with Psalm 114 In exitu Israel. So this theme of creation leads via the psalms to the theme of redemption - but that's a subject for another day, another program.)

Psalms 115:16 The heavens' heavens belong to Yahweh,
but the earth he has given to the children of humanity.

That the earth is not ours to exploit is one thing. But it is ours in that it has been given to us. Israel, on behalf of all, is promised and given a specific land. The Biblical record records the judgment of Israel for polluting the land that they were given and they end up in exile. The metaphor of exile has its generalization also in the experience of everyone. So also we can generalize from the first chapter of Genesis, where the human is created in the image and likeness of God in order to rule:

And God blessed them and God said to them, Be fruitful and increase and fill the earth and control it. And rule among the fish of the sea and among the fowl of the heavens and among every living creeper upon the earth.

What sort of control and rule is implied? The old English versions have "subdue and have dominion". One could still read 'care for' into these words, but it seems more difficult.

Genesis 1:26-27

There is a gap of course between what we should do and what we actually do. But we have also among many, the positive aspects of the Orca and the tiger mentioned above.

So I am looking to design a program for creation in music. I suppose it should also include care.

The first part of the program could be introduced with the opening of Genesis. (One might also divide the presentation by the seven days. Day 1 as an entry, Day 7 as an exit, and the other days as interludes between related presentations.)

The whole of Genesis 1 is performed here. 12 minutes.
Copeland In the beginning. 15-20 minutes.
I am sure there are others.

Also directly related to creation is Job. Contrast, Let there be light, in Genesis 1 with Job 3:3 ff
3 Perish! day when I was born,
and the night promising pregnancy of a valiant child.
4 That day - let it be darkness.
Let God not search for it from above,
nor let a sunbeam on it shine.

Job 3:4-10

Add Jeremiah 20:14 ff

Related Psalms to day 6 - a possible theme - Psalms 8, Purcell, Lord, what is man?
What is a mortal? for you remember it.
And a child of humanity? for you visit it,

And you make it a little less than God,
and with glory and honour you crown it.

You give it governance over what your hands make.
All, you put under its feet.

Psalms 8:5-7

and 144,

Yahweh, what is this humanity that you know it,
a mortal child that you devised it?

Humanity is like futility,
its days as a shadow passing away.

Psalms 144:3-4

and Job 7,
What is a mortal that you make him great,
and that you impose on him your heart?
And you visit him in the mornings.
At every moment you test him.

How long till you not look at me,
or desist from me, even as I swallow my spit?

Job 7:17 the words mimicking Psalms 8 and 144

Psalm 19 also

Psalm 19:2

A setting of The Heavens are Telling, e.g. Haydn, could follow.

If anyone reads to the bottom, do you have some more suggestions of 1. Scripture from the OT that fits the theme, or 2. Music from the 13th to the 21st century that fits the theme?