The Last Best Say

“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.

Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O Lord.
For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods…
Light is sown for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!” Psalm 97:1-6,8-9,11-12

From sea to sea and in between, chaos reigns in the cities, confusion in the hearts of men. Natural beauty abounds, relational love soothes, yet clouds and thick darkness loom in Eden’s pall. What is the meaning? Where shall we turn? Will we be shaken forever? God reigns from His unshakable throne and in every instance has the last best say. (Genesis 3:23-24; Isaiah 24:10-12)

When all seems unjust and the wicked win here, we must remember true righteousness and justice will not fail. Though shrouded now they will triumph in the end. The most heinous of rebels will be judged, confusion will become understanding, and the most formidable foes will be brought to naught, wickedness and power dissolved by His might. See His glory? Set your hope! Rejoice! (Revelation 21:1-8; 22:14)

What in the world causes my spirit to tremble? Where does angst rule in business, finances, relationships, outlook? What drought of love or turmoil of emotion looms over my days? What blight of sins’ shame or pests of temptation weigh heavy and threaten to drench hope and freedom? What if I fully rejoiced in the Lord who has the last say, trusting He is good and it is best?

“O worship the King all-glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

O tell of his might and sing of his grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

Your bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in you do we trust, nor find you to fail.
Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

O measureless Might, unchangeable Love,
whom angels delight to worship above!
Your ransomed creation, with glory ablaze,
in true adoration shall sing to your praise!” ~Robert Grant (1833)

Lord, away from the madding world may I be firmly established in the certainty of You, and with renewed strength and hope praise Your unchanging goodness and glory. (Isaiah 41:1a)