Slices
Prepare
‘My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing that he cannot do’ (Ruth Harms-Calkin, Broadman Press/Nuggets Of Truth, 1959). For decades, children have sung this song of praise. Praise God for his creation, using your own words!
Bible passage
1 The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every side.
4 His lightning lights 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 peoples see his glory.
7 All who worship images are put to shame,
those who boast in idols –
worship him, all you gods!
8 Zion hears and rejoices
and the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments, Lord.
9 For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
10 Let those who love the Lord hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light shines on the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name.
Explore
This song echoes what the psalmist calls God’s people to do: gaze at all that God, the King, has done in creation and respond in praise. Notice how much light, power and energy feature in this call, although not always. ‘Clouds and thick darkness’ (v 2) remind us of God’s presence as in the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19).
Light reappears in the last two verses, shifting the focus to individual righteous living, which produces further rejoicing. The NIV uses the word ‘shines’, but a more accurate option would be ‘is sown’. Reflect on this image of light concentrated into a seed planted in the soil of the faithful. Will the seed’s growth burst or seep out? This ‘seed’ of light will produce new life, moving those who strive to be righteous to rejoice in the Lord.
Paul reminds us that God, who created light out of darkness, has commanded light to shine in our hearts (2 Corinthians 4:6). We can rejoice not only in what God the King has done in creation, but even more that we actually know the ‘Light of the world’ (John 8:12).
Respond
‘The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you’ (Numbers 7:25, ESV). Ask for God’s light to either burst or seep out of you today, with joy.
Deeper Bible study
Heaven and earth are full of God’s glory, all creation sings in praise of its almighty Creator, with the heavens declaring his great Majesty.
The psalmist’s exuberant praise and worship of the Lord can barely be contained. His worship of God is buoyant, effervescent and exuberant. His reference to geological and meteorological elements of nature reveal his personal and passionate adoration. He extols God’s greatness in the presence of clouds and the darkness (v 2), fire (v 3), lightning (4), mountains (v 5) and the heavens (v 6). All of these conjure up images of power, strength, might, victory, glory and splendour. Mountains melting like wax at God’s presence invoke the Majesty and stature of God. The psalmist further asserts the futile shamefulness of worshipping carved images and idols (v 7), almost insisting that the images themselves worship the living God. Verse 9 has become an anthem of international renown amongst the Christian community, sung globally in heartfelt worship, adoration, honour and love of the eternal God.
The psalmist honours worshippers of God as haters of evil (v 10), with assurance of God’s preservation and deliverance. Those who love and adore the Lord of glory will find that they detest all that is abhorrent to the character, nature and Word of God (v 10). The closer you draw to the Lord in worship, the more abhorrent things in opposition to God’s will and nature can appear.
Finally, you are invited to rejoice in the Lord for his gift of imputed righteousness.1 Thank God for the honour and privilege of being able to remember his holy name, the magnificent name by which you can approach him in boldness.2
Read the psalm again slowly, and capture the author’s praise and worship of his Lord.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Judges 19,20; Psalm 44
Pray for Scripture Union
Scripture Union USA gives thanks for the new PrimeTime (after school) programmes in the New York City area. Pray for the churches and teams that are reaching children who don’t normally go to church on a Sunday. Pray for the children, that they may experience God’s love and come to faith in Christ through this outreach.
