Jan. 4, 2016 Psalm 98
1 Sing to God a brand-new song.
He’s made a world of wonders!
He rolled up his sleeves,
He set things right.
2 God made history with salvation,
He showed the world what he could do.
3 He remembered to love us, a bonus
To his dear family, Israel—indefatigable love.
The whole earth comes to attention.
Look—God’s work of salvation!
4 Shout your praises to God, everybody!
Let loose and sing! Strike up the band!
5 Round up an orchestra to play for God,
Add on a hundred-voice choir.
6 Feature trumpets and big trombones,
Fill the air with praises to King God.
7 Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause,
With everything living on earth joining in.
8 Let ocean breakers call out, “Encore!”
And mountains harmonize the finale—
9 A tribute to God when he comes,
When he comes to set the earth right.
He’ll straighten out the whole world,
He’ll put the world right, and everyone in it.
Sometimes I just love the way the Message breaks things down.
While it isn't an actual translation it is a tool to help explain things.
God's judgement, his love, his worthiness of our praise... it never ends.
This passage calls us and the earth to rejoice in our God through songs, words, talents, etc! LET IT LOOSE!
But what are we celebrating?
That God will return!
And that God will be the judge....
WAIT A SECOND!!!
We hate to be judged. We say "How dare you Judge me..."
We even miss use scriptures often to say that we shouldn't judge others...
(That would be a whole other post, but there are two key scriptures... one in context is talking about Christians to the world and not to judge those who are not saved... but then Christians to each other are called to hold each other to a higher standard out of LOVE! So we are to be accountable to each others as Christians...)
Yet we are to celebrate that GOD is coming again to Judge us. To hold us accountable. To reward and to punish.
That is a sobering thought for some but a freeing and joyful thought for others.
No matter what we have done God is righteous. He is FAIR. He is JUST. HE is love. And for all of us who call him Lord, who seek to give him lordship over our lives, who live in such a way to bring him praise... though we face trials and may give into sin we still have a God who listens to our call for forgiveness and FORGIVES!
This is a judge that I can freely lay my life at His MERCY and trust that He will be JUST.
Are you ready to rejoice in that God?
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