97:1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
4 His lightnings light up 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 see his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods!
8 Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O Lord.
9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown 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!
Psalms are interesting. When reading them for devotion, they sometimes read like an order or command: "O you who love the Lord hate evil!" Others times, that same sentence could be a statement of fact: "O you who love the Lord hate evil!"
Whether we come to the Psalms with our questions, our concerns, or looking for authority, in almost all cases the goodness and glory of the Lord is affirmed. If nothing else, the Psalms help ascribe God's majesty and our humility in approaching God's throne. All of creation--earth, coastlands, lightning, mountains--cannot endure the greatness and splendor of God. In our modern minds we read the Psalms with an attitude that mountains do not melt. Fire does not burn up God's adversaries for us like it did for Moses and the Israelites.
Yet all this talk about God's majesty once again serves to remind us of God's sovereign nature. Sometimes, it takes the hyperboles and exaggeration to remind us just how big God is. Today, take time to reflect on the depths of God. Try to find a moment today to pray to God and write your own comparison of just how big the God we serve is.
Prayer: God, thank you for your greatness. Help me to love you and hate what is evil in your sight. Amen.
G. Thomas Martin
