Psalm 97 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 97 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
Jesus is risen!—Now what? Now—light.
After college, a volunteer position brought me to Costa Rica. I arrived during the rainy season—weeks without a hint of sunshine. One afternoon, I looked out a bus window as the sun suddenly parted the clouds, beaming down in radiant blessing. I felt such profound relief at finally seeing the light again that I loudly exclaimed, "Oh, thank God!"
The psalmist echoes those words, so fit for this Easter season: "Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord … give thanks to his holy name!" Jesus' triumph over the grave shines light on the shadow death casts over us. Even darkness is not dark to the One who created night and day, whose "lightnings light up the world." This One endured the dark tomb to free us from darkness in our hearts. This One shines light into our lives. We give thanks. Jesus is risen!—Now what? Now—light.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, your resurrection assures us that light always wins. Even in our darkest nights, help us see your dawn coming, and make us light-bearers for others. Amen.