“The LORD reigns! Let the people tremble” (Ps 99:1)
God is good, but we should never estimate His power that is just downright scary sometimes. Not bad scary but scary in the enormity of His power. And yet somehow we treat God as not that.
We would do well to tremble because He is the one who reigns. And He reigns in fairness, justice and righteousness (Ps 99:4).
When we speak of or think of justice we think of others who have wronged us or others that need justice. We are in a world where everyone has chosen a side and think that their side is the right one and the other side is foolish and can’t see the obvious. How rarely do we take a look, a good look, at ourselves. Because if we did, we would tremble.
Unkind comments in social media would cease if we rightly trembled before God. Political maneuvering and manipulation would cease if we rightly trembled before Him. Much of our own actions would cease including the thoughts and desires of our hearts if we rightly trembled before God.
Many of our problems today are from not trembling before God. We forget that He will bring judgment, that we will face Him in eternity, and that He will see what is in our hearts.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov 1:7).
What is it to tremble? It is to have great reverence and respect for God and to know His ways. It is to remember in the things we think, say and do that pleasing God is of the greatest importance. It is to worship him (Ps 99:2-3):
“Let the earth quake. Yahweh is great in Zion. He is exalted above all the peoples.
Let them praise Your great and awe-inspiring name. He is holy.“
The ancient people looked to the world and all that is in it often. They navigated their way by the stars. They spent time in the pastures and outdoors tending the flocks and herds. Others hunted and understood the way of life and death.
Us?
We don’t look up. We don’t look around. We don’t even look at each other. Much of our day is spent looking at a device or screen in front of us instead of the world around us. Even if we see a magnificent sunset we are quick to put a screen in between us to take a picture, not simply just enjoying the sunset outside of a screen.
I’m guilty. And so is much of humanity. And this is why we are where we are.
Let’s hide our devices for awhile. Let’s go on a hike or jump into a river. Let’s look at the stars at night. Let’s remember who He is. And somehow find our way back to the sacred place of trembling and rejoicing.
