Readings for today: Psalms 90-95, Romans 11
Every year as I make my way through the Psalms, I receive a great gift. The Psalmists lift my eyes above the hills. Above the horizons of my own life. Above my sinful tendency to “navel gaze” and focus on my own needs, wants, and desires. They direct me to God. They place Him in full view before me. They confront me with His character. They nourish me on His divine nature. They relentlessly remind me of His goodness and grace. They place words of praise in my mouth and in my heart and mind. They extol God’s infinite virtues. Righteousness. Justice. Grace. Mercy. Peace. Power. Love. The list is endless. Consider just a few of the verses we read today…
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”(Psalm 90:1-2)
“I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:2, 9-11, 14-16)
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” (Psalm 92:1-4)
“The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.” (Psalm 93:1-2)
“O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve!” (Psalm 94:1-2)
“For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” (Psalm 95:3-6)
Reflecting on these verses is deeply humbling which I believe is the Psalmist’s point. As we come face to face with God. As we gaze on Him in the beauty of His Holiness. As we experience the wonder of His love and grace, we should be brought to our knees. The fathomless depth of our sinful condition is revealed. All our secrets laid bare. God is God. We are not. God is good. We are not. God is righteous. We are not. God is faithful. We are not. God is love. We are not. As we come to grips with the utter brokenness of our condition, we are driven to helplessness and despair. We experience godly sorrow over all the ways we fall short of the glory God desires to reveal in us. As we grieve, we are being prepared by God’s Spirit for the transforming experience of His grace.
The reality is we have to come to the end of ourselves before we will turn to God. We have to be emptied of all our resources, all our strength, all our dependence on self if we are to be filled with God’s Spirit. And this is the heart of the gospel. Those who humble themselves will be exalted. The last shall be first. Those who sow generously and sacrificially will reap a harvest of righteousness. Those who lose their lives for Jesus’ sake will find them.
Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 96-98, Romans 12