Lenten Devotion

Psalm 99 (New American Standard Bible)

The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble;
He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!

The LORD is great in Zion,
And He is exalted above all the peoples.

Let them praise Your great and awesome name;
Holy is He.

The strength of the King loves justice;
You have established equity;
You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

Exalt the LORD our God
And worship at His footstool;
Holy is He.

Moses and Aaron were among His priests,
And Samuel was among those who called on His name;
They called upon the LORD and He answered them.

He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;
They kept His testimonies
And the statute that He gave them.

O LORD our God, You answered them;
You were a forgiving God to them,
And yet an avenger of their evil deeds.

Exalt the LORD our God
And worship at His holy hill,
For holy is the LORD our God.

Reflection

We live at a time when conflict characterizes much family life; when extremist rhetoric and violence haunt religious life; when an “each man for himself” philosophy prevails in civic life; when unrestrained greed dominates economic life; when miserly wealth and self-interested power controls political life; and when perpetual war defines international relations. It would not be hard to make the case that we are living in the worst of times.

The Psalmist, no doubt, could have made the same case for his time. We live in a fallen world. If we are going to face life with confidence and hope, we are going to have to do it as the Psalmist did -- by faith and not by sight.

Those with faith to see by the light of eternity know that all nations have reason to tremble. We can see that God is still on his throne, that God is still holy, and that God still loves justice. Trembling is in order because we know we live at a time and place that God judges to be unwilling to extend equal justice for all, wanting in compassion for the poor, giving mere lip service to love for neighbor, and reluctant to show hospitality to the stranger. A time is coming when all who have created and/or benefitted from the inequities and injustices of the social systems of this world will have to face the Lord of the universe. Trembling is in order because, whether we like it or not, we are part of this unjust social system and we are among its beneficiaries.

Those who have eyes to see by the light of eternity also know that we have good reason to rejoice, praise God, and worship God. God still answers those who call on his name and God is still forgiving.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may every Christian tremble until all mankind knows about your love and grace. Amen.

This devotion was prepared for NorthHaven Church's book of Lenten Devotions for 2010.