Psalm 68:32-35 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, (Selah,) to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice. Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!
What a challenge is implied in these words to us today - as it was to God's Covenant people of old! His 'channel' for demanding praise from all the nations of the world as their Creator and Ruler is through the faithful witness of his Church.
Perhaps the Apostle Paul had this Psalm in mind when he wrote: "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the Church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills everything in every way" (Ephesians 1:18-23).
It is as his people, his Church, submit to his Lordship and genuinely sing and tell out his praise by the way we think, speak, worship, live and relate to each other, and to the world around us, that we will inspire the kingdoms of the earth to 'sing to God' and 'sing praise to the Lord', our 'awesome' God.
Inasmuch as we do not see this happening today, and as we wait for him to return in power, how can we contribute to a spiritual awakening that will open people's eyes to the reality of who Christ is. God's rightful King is described in Psalm 2: "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. 'Let us break their chains,' they say, 'and throw off their fetters.' The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 'I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.' I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, 'You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron sceptre; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.' Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him."
- Bruce Christian
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