Psalms Book 4 (Psalms 90-106)Sample

Welcoming the Lord, the Judge of the earth

Psalms 95, 96, and 97 articulate three stages as we approach the Lord.

Psalm 95 opens worship with an exultant fanfare of praise to the one who has created all that exists. It exhorts his people to bow down, worship, and kneel before him and reminds us to listen carefully to what he says and be quick to obey him.

Psalm 96 widens the call to all the nations on earth to join in worshiping this supreme Lord of heaven and, with beautiful imagery, describes the holy worship of the reigning Lord who is coming to intervene in our lives. He is righteous and faithful, and he is coming to judge, adjudicate, make decisions, and establish justice.

And then, like peeling an onion, Psalm 97 puts the curser on the Lord as judge and double-clicks. Although this judge has absolute and terrifying power, the very foundation of his sovereign reign is not brutal force or capricious violence but … righteousness and justice!

Psalm 94 called on the Lord to come and avenge sin. ‘O God who avenges shine forth. Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve’, v2.

And now he comes to intervene. He brings justice to the oppressed so there is order and peace, so the forgotten ones, ‘the (little) villages of Judah,’ are glad. The Lord himself, the righteous judge, champions their cause, v8.

As we draw near to the Lord - the Judge of the earth - in worship, we can be certain that the outcome will be very, very good indeed. So even before this righteous judge has arrived, made decisions, and acted, ‘Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart,’ v11.

Can I again encourage you to read and immerse yourselves in these psalms? You will find the engagement so much richer, and the Holy Spirit will show you further jewels and riches.