Day 1: The World Stands Firm
September 24, 2020 by Mark Woodward
Word: Psalm 96:7-13 (NLT)
7 O nations of the world, recognize the Lord;
recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong.
8 Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!
Bring your offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.
Let all the earth tremble before him.
10 Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.
He will judge all peoples fairly.
11 Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!
Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
12 Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!
Let the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the Lord, for he is coming!
He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice,
and the nations with his truth.
Some nations think the King of All Nations is only the king of their nation—or not king at all. The good news is “The Lord reigns!” This fundamental truth is the framework for the entire revelation of God to man. From the beginning of nations until the end of time, the Lord reigns. What is the impact on the world of this absolute statement of truth?
“The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.” Our world of earthquakes and hurricanes does not seem to stand firm. The truth of daily suicide bombers and corrupt officials and suffering refugees does not feel like a world standing firm. And if world events were completely random acts, controlled only by the physical laws of cause and effect, then it would be foolish to talk about firmness . . . or fairness. But there is no random world event; the Lord reigns!
In a time of political chaos, when true perspective alludes us, when lies and twisted truths tempt us to believe there is no truth, what would happen if in faith we spoke the words: “The Lord reigns! The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.”
What if we recognized that our world is broken, but that the King of All Nations is coming to judge the world with justice and the nations with his truth. What if we realized that every time we act justly and speak his truth, we were bringing a small part of his reign to our nation. What if truth and justice—fair judgment—were the characteristics we sought in our elected officials?
The psalmist described two responses: first, when we recognize his sovereignty, we surrender our own attempts to rule ourselves, and we submit to his reign. We break out in worship, giving to God the glory he deserves. Second, with all creation we celebrate his reign with joy!
The Lord reigns, so we do not fear chaos, we do not fear injustice, we are not afraid. While the world for a while is still broken . . . the Lord reigns.
Prayer: We do believe, Father, that you are the King of All Nations. We confess the brokenness of the world around us, which often confuses us, often makes us afraid and insecure. Give us greater faith and confidence in your reign over all nations. Continue to forgive us and to fill us up with faith, until we can believe the world stands firm, until we can celebrate your reign, until we find natural joy. AMEN
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