Psalm Meditation 707
Second Sunday After Christmas
January 5, 2014

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 revered 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 splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The LORD is king! The world is firmly 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 forest sing for joy
13 before the LORD; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
(NRSV)

It sometimes seems that the folks who look forward to God’s judgment the most are some of the ones who will be judged most harshly. These folks are so sure that God setting things right is the same as setting things in the order they see fit. I am afraid they are in for a disappointment. God’s way and my way are rarely the same because I want revenge and a renewal of my own sense of dignity and order. God leans toward mercy and steadfast love.

I imagine that God is a bit less lenient with those of us who claim to speak for God in a voice and accent that fly in the face of God’s genuine intent for those God loves and with chesed/agape’/unconditional love. The number of folk we turn away from God with our arrogant words and deeds will likely be met with some stern looks and words. God’s ire will likely not get in the way of God’s saving love, however it will certainly leave us humbled, at the very least.

As we sing our songs and revel in the greatness of God we do well not to get so caught up in our celebrations that we begin to feel that we are heirs to that greatness by some word or act of our own. Any glint of salvation, righteous and truth we receive is a gift God gives to us. Granted, some are more open to receive these gifts than others, that does not mean that they are not set before each of us in some wonder filled way. Sing and rejoice in God’s glory.

December 30, 2013