Psalm 97:1-12 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 97:1-12 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
Verse 2Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Verse 3Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side.
Verse 4His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
Verse 5The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.
Verse 6The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.
Verse 7All worshipers of images are put to shame, those who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him.
Verse 8Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O God.
Verse 9For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
Verse 10The Lord loves those who hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
Verse 11Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
Verse 12Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
Devotion
For the psalmist, God’s presence is heralded by fiery floes and lightning spears. God flexes some muscle, growls in warning, and woe to all who are on the receiving end! And yet this same God, for whom “the mountains melt like wax,” deigns to come down to our level through his son Jesus Christ in order to lift us up from our messy, sinful existence.
Prayer
Awesome God, like the psalmist, we too sing praises to your power, glory and might. But we also know that your fierce love brought us the redeeming gift of Jesus Christ. We thank you, and glorify your name forever! Amen.