McKay Vandenberg: As we continue our reading of the Psalms, we are in Psalms 97 today. The passage says, The Lord is king, let the earth rejoice. Let the furthest coastlands be glad. Dark clouds surround him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire spreads ahead of him and burns up all his foes. His lightning flashes out across the world. The earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord all of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness.
Every nation sees his glory. Those who worship idols are disgraced. All who brag about their worthless gods. For every god must bow to him. Jerusalem has heard and rejoiced, and all the towns of Judah are glad because of your justice, oh Lord.
For you, oh Lord, are supreme over all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods. You who love the Lord hate evil. He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked. Light shines on the godly and joy on and joy on those who whose hearts are right.
May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord and praise his holy name. Very beginning of this Psalm seems a little harsh talking about fire destroying his enemies, lightning flashing, the mountains melting like wax. And as I'm reading this, I don't necessarily think the psalmist is saying be afraid of God. I think what he's trying to communicate is just the power and majesty of the God that we live and serve. Sometimes I tend to think of God as this harsh judge, this disappointed father in me.
And what I actually find comfort in this psalm that is trying, that is ultimately praising God is no matter what happens in this world, God is in control and the weather listens to his voice. The nations are under his control. There is nothing too far from God that he does not have power over. And even at the end of at the end of the Psalm, may all who are godly rejoice in the Lord and praise his holy name. It's we get to this point at the end where we are reflecting on how big, how powerful God is, and we get to rejoice and praise him in that.
God wants a deep and loving relationship with you. And as we look at the world around and see the things that he's in control, it almost makes that relationship more powerful. You could you see the ways that the earth listens to his voice and that same God that can control that wants that relationship with you, wants to know what is going on in your life, wants to hears yeah, actually hears your prayers and wants to respond and answer them today. So as you read this Psalm and go about your day, recognize that no matter what happens, God is still in control. That doesn't diminish the scariness of it.
Mountains melting like wax would be pretty terrifying sight to see. But we can rest assured knowing that that same God loves us and cares about us deeply. Let's pray. Heavenly father, your power is immeasurable. Sometimes the only way that we can explain it is in these scary situations and words, but Lord, in all of that power, you still love us and care about us.
In all of that glory and majesty, you extended a hand to us to be in relationship with us. Lord, in all of your glory, you still offered your son as a living sacrifice for the sins and the shortcomings that we have. God, as we go about our day today, help us to remember your power, help us to remember your glory and ultimately give you honor in that Lord. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.