July 28, 2009
ULTIMATE POWER, ULTIMATE LOVE
Psalm 76
Grant Mac Quilkan
Central Truth
God has proven Himself to be all-powerful and intentional about loving and protecting us, trying at every turn of history to capture our hearts.
Key Verse | Psalm 76:7–9
You are awesome! Yes, you!
Who can withstand your intense anger?
From heaven you announced what their punishment would be.
The earth was afraid and silent when God arose to execute judgment, and to deliver all the oppressed of the earth. (Selah)
(Psalm 76:7-9)
Psalm 76
Who Can Stand Before You?
To the choirmaster: 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 mountains full of prey.
5
The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil;
they sank into sleep;
all the men of war
were unable to use their hands.
6
At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
both rider and horse lay stunned.
7
But you, you are to be feared!
Who can stand before you
when once your anger is roused?
8
From the heavens you uttered judgment;
the earth feared and was still,
9
when God arose to establish judgment,
to save all the humble of the earth. Selah
10
Surely the wrath of man shall praise you;
the remnant
1
76:10
Or extremity
of wrath you will put on like a belt.
11
Make your vows to the LORD your God and perform them;
let all around him bring gifts
to him who is to be feared,
12
who cuts off the spirit of princes,
who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.
Dive Deeper | Psalm 76
Ultimate power is awesome. One of my favorite scenes on the big screen is when the witch queen confronts Aslan the Lion in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the film version of the C.S. Lewis classic book. The queen is talking all sorts of trash regarding her kingdom and her rights, and Aslan finally has enough and lets out this ominous, deafening roar. The queen immediately falls back in her chair, and everyone is left stone cold silent, motionless, and stripped of courage.
There are many contemporary real-life examples of that sort of real power. After September 11, 2001, I remember thinking, "Someone had to make the call that every plane flying in U.S. air space had to land immediately." All the pilots in every airplane had to obey the order to land. Now, very few people will know who gave the order to land, but that was an act of ultimate power. Words were spoken, and people took immediate action.
Asaph had seen God's mighty hand in delivering His people. The most powerful forces of that day, which were seemingly far superior, better equipped, and outnumbering God's people, were cut down by God like a hot knife through butter. The only possible response was to be smitten with awe, on your knees, and speechless.
I am reminded of the arguments kindergarten boys have about whose daddy can whop whose daddy. Well, how cool is it to say, "My father is all-powerful; made, owns and runs the world; can whop anything that messes with His will for my life; and His loving kindness (unmerited favor) towards me never ceases!" Wow! Romans 8:38-39 tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God, this same God who strikes fear and awe in all who see Him! Yeah, my Daddy is awesome! I think this was David's heart when he wrote his Psalms. It is a natural reaction: "Wow! God, You are awesome!"
Discussion Questions
1. What or who am I afraid of?
2. How does my knowledge of who God is inform my fears?
3. What do I trust in? How does my knowledge of God inform my decision to have confidence in those things in which I put my trust?