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Psalm 95-99 High And Nigh
posted Friday, 3 July 2009
These psalms celebrate the majesty and greatness and holiness of our God. I fear that as we try to understand how God is personally involved in our lives, we are in danger of misunderstanding just how high and mighty He truly is! The incredible extremes are mind-blowing! The same God who could easily evaporate a hurricane with a thought is also gently nudging us along the path He has planned for our lives. The God who deftly designed the delicate wings of a monarch butterfly also flung the galaxies into motion!
I appreciated the gentle warning in 95:7 -- "Today, LISTEN to what He says."
I've observed many teenaged guys standing stoically during worship, looking unmoved and never daring to sing. I was like that once, too, somehow erroneously believing I was improving my masculinity. But what of God's commands in chapter 96? "Sing TO the Lord and PRAISE His name"? When we do stand unmoved in worship, whether young or old, our human pride propping us up, we fail to realize that we are like a butterfly facing a hurricane. Such hubris is totally unbecoming of a child of God!
One of my favorite quotes about these two extremes we witness of God is: "God is infinitely high and infinitely nigh (or near)." That means we can't imagine just how much higher He is that us and how intimately acquainted with us He is, knowing us even better than we know ourselves.
That "infinitely high" part is brought out in these chapters so well: "Worship the Lord because He is holy. Tremble before Him, everyone on earth....You are the Lord Most High over all the earth; You are supreme over all gods.
The "infinitely nigh" part is there too: "The Lord watches over those who follow Him ... The Lord has made known His power to save; ...They called to the Lord and He ANSWERED them. He spoke to them .... Lord our God, You answered them. You showed them that You are a forgiving God."
My commentary found a particular instance when the two extremes are melded together. "Once, His holiness excluded us from His presence. But now, through the redemption accomplished by the Lord Jesus, His holiness is on OUR side instead of being against us, and we can rejoice when we remember it."
Father, thank You for being so close to me, for speaking to me, for guiding me every step of the way. But more importantly, Father, thank You for being God Most High. I wouldn't want a God who lacked anything. I'm glad that I have a powerful and almighty God. Thank You for putting the two together in Your Son.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
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