Light Dawns for the Righteous
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Psalm 96
1. O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 4. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5. For all the gods of the peoples are idols; but the Lord made the heavens. 6. Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! 8. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! 9. Worship the Lord in holy array; tremble before him, all the earth! 10. Say among the nations, "The Lord reigns! Yea, the world is established, it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity." 11. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12. let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy 13. before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
As you may be able to figure out, my mood has lightened as the week has progressed! The only down side of being in a place like Lake Junaluska, is that you do eventually have to come back into the world! But this psalm helps me realize it’s okay. When we ascribe to God all the glory He deserves, it is easy to rejoice! Even in this crazy, sin-filled world in which we live!
When I read the phrase “come into his courts” I recall a television special we watched a couple of years ago about one the ancient cities in the holy land. The temple was massive – the courtyard probably the size of two football fields! A full-grown man was dwarfed within the walls of the courtyard, let alone the temple complex! I think the men of that time, and before (and since!) wanted to erect a monument worthy of God. They wanted a building that would be big enough and beautiful enough to contain God’s essence.
Of course we know that’s impossible. How could man ever create or even imagine anything that would compete with the trees of the woods, the roaring waves of the ocean, or even man himself? I wonder if the psalmist has just finished up a week or so of spiritual retreat and renewal!? These verses certainly express the joy and the fullness and the celebratory hope I felt throughout my time in the mountains last week! The trick – and test of our faithfulness – is to maintain that hope when we are in the world again. I am feeling as if I have re-captured that hope! I am filled up with gratitude and humility and praise for a God so mighty, so strong, so powerful, and yet so gentle and loving as to count me among his creations. And to save a place for me with him in eternity.
Psalm 97
1. The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! 2. Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3. Fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries round about. 4. His lightnings lighten the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. 6. The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory. 7. All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him. 8. Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of thy judgments, O God. 9. For thou, O Lord, art most high over all the earth; thou art exalted far above all gods. 10. The Lord loves those who hate evil; he preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 11. Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. 12. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
I hope you spend your day glad and rejoicing that light dawns for the righteous and joy comes for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord and give thanks to his holy name!
Mary
