WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: Think about all the ways you might picture God. Compassionate or angry? Saviour or judge? A king on a throne or a warrior on a horse wearing clothes dipped in blood (Revelation 19)?

He’s the King
This psalm reminds me of the place in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe when the children learn that Aslan is a lion and they express their misgivings: is the lion safe? ‘“Safe?” said Mr Beaver; “... Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the king, I tell you.”’

I’m pretty comfortable with the concept of having a personal relationship with a loving, saving God – Jesus, the Good Shepherd (see John 10). I can even cope with the idea of him being a majestic, holy King, enthroned for ever (v 10).

Not safe, but good
What is a little more challenging is the thought of his voice being a destructive force so cataclysmic it makes me think of a nuclear bomb: it breaks cedars, shakes the desert, twists oaks and strips forests bare! It’s just not safe.

But praise God that he is good. David starts the psalm with using the words ‘ascribe’ and ‘worship’ (NIV). He calls all believers to admit and proclaim that glory and strength belong to God and ends by reminding us that God is the source of strength, peace and blessing.

Respond: Today, find someone with whom you can discuss the diverse aspects of our God and pray with them about any aspects that either of you find challenging.

http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-08-12