INTRODUCTION:
Many
of the problems confronting modern Christians are the result of diligently
trying to do the right thing . . . in the wrong categories. They try guitar
fingering on a mandolin; they try chess rules on a backgammon board; they apply
the rules of French grammar to English. And for us to draw attention to such
mistakes is not to object to any of these things in particular—chess,
guitar, backgammon, whatever. But this is the mistake we make whenever we try
to “make a difference” and our activity does not proceed directly from a
vision of the Almighty Lord, high and lifted up.
THE TEXT:
The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude
of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him:
righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. A fire goeth
before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened
the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the
presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The
heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. Confounded
be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship
him, all ye gods. Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced
because of thy judgments, O LORD. For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth:
thou art exalted far above all gods. Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he
preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the
wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his
holiness” (Ps. 97:1-12).
OVERVIEW:
God
reigns, and the whole earth is called to rejoice (v. 1). His holiness is
not what we might assume—His righteousness and judgment are like clouds and
darkness (v. 2). A fire precedes Him, and burns up His enemies (v. 3).
Lightning flashes, and the whole created order sees it, and trembles (v. 4). In
the presence of God, hills and mountains melt like wax in a fire (v. 5). The
heavens preach, and everyone sees His glory (v. 6). A curse is
pronounced—confounded be all false worshippers, and all gods are summoned to
worship the one God (v. 7). When this is proclaimed Zion hears and is glad. The
daughters of Judah rejoice (v. 8). Why do we rejoice? Because the Lord is
exalted high above all the earth (v. 9). This transcendent sense of true
worship has potent ethical ramifications—you that love the Lord, hate evil (v.
10). In this setting, God delivers His people from those who return the hatred
(v. 10). Light is sown for the righteous; gladness for the upright (v. 11). We
are summoned by Him to therefore rejoice, and to give thanks as we remember His
holiness (v. 12).
CLOUDS AND DARKNESS:
Holiness
is not manageable (v. 2). Holiness does not come in a shrink-wrapped box.
Holiness is not marketable. Holiness is not tame. Holiness is not
sweetsy-nice. Holiness is not represented by kitschy figurines. Holiness is not
smarmy. Holiness is not unctuous. Holiness is not domesticated. But worship a
god who is housebroken to all your specifications, and what is the result?
Depression, and a regular need for sedatives—better living through chemistry.
Holiness
is wild. Holiness is three tornadoes in a row. Holiness is a series of black
thunderheads coming in off the bay. Holiness is impolite. Holiness is darkness
to make a sinful man tremble. Holiness beckons us to that darkness, where we do
not meet ghouls and ghosts, but rather the righteousness of God. Holiness is a
consuming fire. Holiness melts the world. And when we fear and worship a God
like this, what is the result? Gladness of heart.
GLADNESS FOR THE UPRIGHT IN HEART:
Worship
the god who does nothing but kittens and pussy willows, and you will end in
despair. Worship the God of the jagged edge, the God whose holiness cannot be
made palatable for the middle class American consumer, and the result is deep gladness.
Do you hear that? Gladness, not pomposity. And, thank God, such gladness
does not make us parade about with cheeks puffed slighted out, or speak with
lots of rotund vowels, or strut with sanctimonious air. Gladness, laughter,
joy—set these before you. This is deep Christian faith, and not what so
many are marketing today in the name of Jesus. The tragedy is that in the name
of relevance the current expression of the faith in America today is
superficial all the way down.
YE THAT LOVE THE LORD . . .
Hate
evil. So this is why an ethical application of the vision of the holy is most
necessary. If we bypass this vision of who God actually is, the necessary
result will be a prissy moralism, and not the robust morality of the Christian
faith. The distance between moralism and true morality is vast, and the thing
that creates this distance is knowledge of the holy. Those who content
themselves with petty rules spend all their time fussing about with hemlines,
curfews, and scruples about alcohol. But those who see this folly and go off in
their own little libertine hipster direction are no better. The former act as
though their moralism is grounded on the dictates of a gremlin-like god who
lives in their attic, but his word is law. The latter say that this is
stupid, and aspire to become the gremlin themselves. There are two parts: love
the Lord. Hate evil.
THE POTENCY OF RIGHT WORSHIP:
In
this psalm, how should we define right worship? The answer is that right
worship occurs when the congregation of God approaches Him, sees Him as
He is, and responds rightly, as He has commanded—in joy and glad
submission. Such worship necessitates turning away from all idols (v. 7), and
turning to the holy God who cannot be manipulated. And in this psalm
alone, what does right worship do? What effect does it have? What are the
results? The earth rejoices (v. 1). All the islands are glad (v. 1). His
enemies are consumed with the fire that goes before Him (v. 3). The earth is
illuminated by His lightning, and trembles (v. 4). In the presence of the Lord
(and in worship we are in the presence of the Lord), the hills melt (v.
5). The heavens preach, and the people see His glory (v. 6). Idolaters are
flummoxed, confounded (v. 7). The universal call to worship is even issued to
the idols (v. 7). Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice
(v. 8). The name of God is exalted above every name (v. 9). The saints of
God learn to hate evil, and God preserves them from those who persecute them
(v. 10). Light and gladness are sown in our hearts (v. 11). His righteous
people rejoice, and are grateful when they remember His holiness (v. 12).
A CALL TO WORSHIP:
Those
who serve graven images are confounded (v. 7). Those who worship false
gods cannot be anything but confounded. Those who worship the true God falsely
are missing the scriptural call as well. But those who worship rightly will
inherit the earth.
