God is awesome indeed
Psalm 76
To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.
1 In Judah God is known, his name is great in Israel.
2 His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling-place in Zion.
3 There he broke the flashing arrows,
the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah
4 Glorious are you, more majestic than the everlasting mountains.
5 The stout-hearted were stripped of their spoil; they sank into sleep;
none of the troops was able to lift a hand.
6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse lay stunned.
7 But you indeed are awesome!
Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused?
8 From the heavens you uttered judgement;
the earth feared and was still
9 when God rose up to establish judgement,
to save all the oppressed of the earth. Selah
10 Human wrath serves only to praise you,
when you bind the last bit of your wrath around you.
11 Make vows to the Lord your God, and perform them;
let all who are around him bring gifts to the one who is awesome,
12 who cuts off the spirit of princes,
who inspires fear in the kings of the earth.
The Salem of vs. 2 is a short form for Jerusalem. It is also a variation of Shalom – which is the word for Peace, a complete peace, a place of well-being. There is a double ring here – God’s dwelling place is peace, when God arrives God brings peace.
As we live a world dominated by war and violence – not just in the places that easily come to mind like Ukraine – but also in the forgotten places like Yemen and Myanmar – this psalm speaks a promise in which we and the world can hope.
Vs. 3 the day is coming when arrows, shields, swords – and all the weapons of war will be broken by the majestic God who is coming to bring peace. The awesome one (vs. 7 and 11) is so powerful that the bravest of the brave but faint away (sank into sleep – vs. 5) and those with military power (rider and horse – vs. 6) simply lay down in defeat. The leaders of nations, those who plan war and destruction will have their will to violence (their spirit – vs. 12) shredded and the rulers who believe they are all-powerful will be filled with fear before the Lord God.
The Lord God is coming save all the oppressed of the earth, bringing judgement against the oppressors. The day is coming when the oppressors will be judged. And on that day the only thing that will matter is where our loyalty lies – see vs. 11. Are we loyal to the awesome one, do we keep our promises to God? Or are we loyal to the passing power of human economic and military might.
PRAYER:
O Lord our God, how majestic is your name in all the earth. Come and free our world from war and violence, that all peoples might live at peace. For only through your reign will all the peoples of the earth find reconciliation and hope. In the name of Jesus the Lord, we pray. Amen.