pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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God’s Sanctuary and Dominion

Reading: Psalm 114

Verse 2: “Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.”

For the psalmist, the exodus from under mighty Egypt’s oppression and the near-impossible rescue at the parting of the sea were two great examples of God in action. God acted on behalf of the beloved of God. You and I are beloved of God. So there are times and situations that you can look back on and say, ‘Yes, right then and there, God acted in my life.’ When has God freed you or saved you or rescued you? Like the psalmist does here, it is important for us too to remember and offer our thanksgiving to God. This is part of being God’s sanctuary and dominion.

In verses 5-6 the psalmist asks a great question. He or she ponders over why the waters part and why the mountains and hills quake. They do so because they are “in the presence of the Lord.” God’s power and might and majesty are over all of creation. They are over you and me. As we recognize God’s sovereign hand in all of creation and in our lives, we too humbly now and honor almighty God. This too is part of being God’s sanctuary and dominion.

In verse 2 we read, “Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.” This speaks of relationship and connection. It speaks of intimacy and commitment. You and I are part of God’s family. God is our sanctuary – both the place where we worship and the place we go to feel safe and protected. God is our dominion – both the one who is steadfast and true and the one to whom we commit our lives and faith. Thank you, God, for being our sanctuary and our dominion.

Prayer: Lord God, you are our all in all. With you we lack nothing that we need. You are ever-present and almighty. You are personal and intimate. May our lives be expressions of our gratitude for our connection with you. Amen.


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God’s Dominion

Reading: Psalm 114

Verse 7: “Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord.”

Psalm 114 speaks of the deep and intimate relationship that God has with the chosen people. The psalmist writes of three of God’s nights act on behalf of the people. Remembering how God parted the sea, turned back the Jordan, and brought water from a rock in the desert reminds Israel of both God’s power and might AND of God’s provision for them. In response the psalmist calls out to the world, saying, “Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord.” The invitation is to recognize that God is not just their God, but is the God over all of creation.

At times in our lives God will act or intervene or guide in powerful and awesome ways. Think back over your life. When have you felt God’s presence or guidance? When has God encouraged or strengthened or even carried you? And when have you been a part of something that God has done? Was it in your church or at an event or on a mission trip? These God moments remind us of God’s power and might, of God’s love and care. They remind us that God is the Lord of our life.

In verse 2 the psalmist writes, “Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel God’s dominion.” This is the writer’s way of saying that God was present to the chosen people. As we fast forward in the big story of God’s people, we have now entered that family through our relationship with Jesus Christ. God is our sanctuary, our lives are God’s dominion. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, you remind us again and again of your love for us. You touch our lives in so many ways – some big and powerful, some small and almost beyond noticing. You are always there, always watching over, always providing, always ready to respond or act. Thank you for your great love. Amen.


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Dominion

Reading: Psalm 22: 23-31

Verse 28: “Dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations”.

Photo credit: Erik Van Dijk

The words that we read in today’s Psalm seem far from the realities of our world. The world feels like it is full of suffering. Many of their cries seem to go unanswered. The poor do not appear to be satisfied. All the earth has not turned toward the Lord. In the midst of these continuing realities, verse 28 calls us to a higher truth, to an eternal reality: “Dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations”.

The hope that we find in our faith reminds us that this world and its trials are temporary. God is truly in charge and one day the Lord will be the only king or ruler. All people past and present will “kneel before him”. This is a future scene that one day will come. As we live out our day to day lives, do we simply wait for Christ to return or to call us home? Do we just go through the motions of life and live with the suffering and the cries and the plight of the poor? Should we be okay with all the lost souls?

As Christians in the modern world reading these words written long ago by King David, our role is to connect to that “future generation” and to be the ones who “proclaim his righteousness” and who share the hope we have with a world in need. Rather than seeing ourselves as David and the Jews did and do – as a chosen people set aside for God – may we see ourselves as Jesus saw and lived out his ministry: as one sent into the world to minister to needs, to care for the marginalized, to alleviate suffering. May we, by our words and actions, proclaim that the kingdom of God has drawn near, manifesting this reality in the world. May all that we do and say reveal the dominion and rule of Christ here and now. In and through us, may Christ reign.

Prayer: Lord God, open my eyes and heart to the cries of the suffering and to the needs around me. Lead and guide me to make your love known in this world. Amen.