The bank of clouds now swept hugely out of the western sky. Its front was purple and black, with gray between, a bulging, mushrooming, vast thing instinct with storm. It had dark, angry, threatening aspect. As if all the power of the winds were pushing and piling behind, it rolled ponderously across the sky. A red flare burned out instantaneously, flashed from the west to east, and died. Then from the deepest black of the purple cloud burst a boom.”
–Zane Grey (Riders of the Purple Sage)
“The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook.”
–Psalm 77:18 (NKJV)
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Have you ever found yourself in a situation where it is hard to praise God? Perhaps a storm or battle you are going through and you just cannot praise God. When that occurs, remember, we praise Him for who He is. Someone said, “The situation does not dictate to us what to do… We don’t focus on the surrounding difficulties, but to what God says.” G. Campbell Morgan wrote, “The fixed point in the universe, the unalterable fact, is the throne of God.” Keep that in mind as we look at the first part of Psalm 97.
1 — The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad!
2 — Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
3 — A fire goes before Him, and burns up His enemies round about.
4 — His lightnings light the world; the earth sees and trembles.
5 — The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 — The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory. (NKJV)
In these verses we see clearly two attributes of God–His sovereignty and His omnipotence. The Lord reigns! Many people do not like the doctrine of the sovereignty of God, but in reality this should give great comfort to the child of God. He is in control! Lawson states, “God actively, moment by moment, rules over all things for His own glory and for the good of His people…”
We live in a chaotic, confused world where it appears to our finite, human mind that God does not control nor does He care about the affairs of men. Evil abounds, and sometimes our own lives spin so much we think we are riding in a tilt-o-whirl. Other’s actions sometimes affect us, and we wonder where God is, and yet, we are told to praise Him. Praise Him for who He is, praise Him for His sovereignty, praise Him that He cares for you. Don’t look at the evil, the raging tempest, or the fierceness of the battle, but look at the throne.
Notice the foundations of His throne–righteousness and justice. When we seemingly think evil is winning and in control–look at the throne, the foundation consists of justice. God will judge. Keep your focus heavenward, look at the throne. Look at His power. Contemplate on this Psalm; read Revelation 1–get a firm view of the throne. The “fire” represents the divine wrath and fury that goes before God. When we read the prophets, we see that the Day of the Lord–the day of judgment will be a fearful and mighty thing. In the midst of calamity we are to declare His righteousness. F.B. Meyer said, “The strain of ‘Hallelujah’ is impossible till it can be said in the heat and universe, ‘The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.'”
So in the hard time, in the midst of the turmoil of the storm, in the fog, fury, and ferocity of the battle–KNOW–that God is in control. He is on His throne and nothing escapes His attention. Give praise for who He is. Praise Him for His sovereignty, righteousness, and justice. Praise Him for His omnipotence and that He cares for you.
“Before Jehovah’s awful throne,
Ye nations, bow with sacred joy,
Know that the Lord is God alone;
He can create, and He can destroy.”
–Isaac Watts
———————————
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where it is hard to praise God? Perhaps a storm or battle you are going through and you just cannot praise God. When that occurs, remember, we praise Him for who He is. Someone said, “The situation does not dictate to us what to do… We don’t focus on the surrounding difficulties, but to what God says.” G. Campbell Morgan wrote, “The fixed point in the universe, the unalterable fact, is the throne of God.” Keep that in mind as we look at the first part of Psalm 97.
1 — The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad!
2 — Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
3 — A fire goes before Him, and burns up His enemies round about.
4 — His lightnings light the world; the earth sees and trembles.
5 — The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 — The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory. (NKJV)
In these verses we see clearly two attributes of God–His sovereignty and His omnipotence. The Lord reigns! Many people do not like the doctrine of the sovereignty of God, but in reality this should give great comfort to the child of God. He is in control! Lawson states, “God actively, moment by moment, rules over all things for His own glory and for the good of His people…”
We live in a chaotic, confused world where it appears to our finite, human mind that God does not control nor does He care about the affairs of men. Evil abounds, and sometimes our own lives spin so much we think we are riding in a tilt-o-whirl. Other’s actions sometimes affect us, and we wonder where God is, and yet, we are told to praise Him. Praise Him for who He is, praise Him for His sovereignty, praise Him that He cares for you. Don’t look at the evil, the raging tempest, or the fierceness of the battle, but look at the throne.
Notice the foundations of His throne–righteousness and justice. When we seemingly think evil is winning and in control–look at the throne, the foundation consists of justice. God will judge. Keep your focus heavenward, look at the throne. Look at His power. Contemplate on this Psalm; read Revelation 1–get a firm view of the throne. The “fire” represents the divine wrath and fury that goes before God. When we read the prophets, we see that the Day of the Lord–the day of judgment will be a fearful and mighty thing. In the midst of calamity we are to declare His righteousness. F.B. Meyer said, “The strain of ‘Hallelujah’ is impossible till it can be said in the heat and universe, ‘The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.'”
So in the hard time, in the midst of the turmoil of the storm, in the fog, fury, and ferocity of the battle–KNOW–that God is in control. He is on His throne and nothing escapes His attention. Give praise for who He is. Praise Him for His sovereignty, righteousness, and justice. Praise Him for His omnipotence and that He cares for you.
“Before Jehovah’s awful throne,
Ye nations, bow with sacred joy,
Know that the Lord is God alone;
He can create, and He can destroy.”
–Isaac Watts