“Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth!
Say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.’
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.”
“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice!” Psalm 96:6-13; 97:1a
“The creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.” Romans 8:19-24
Lacy green umbrellas spread a carpet of lush between towering pines, cozying fresh shade underneath and exquisitely majestic from above. Observing the magnificence of pristine and extraordinary aspects of the nature makes it hard to imagine its futility and bondage to corruption with the rest of creation. And yet, it will be more beautiful. The eternal splendor of the Lord God will be manifest at His glorious return, and all that now groans will one day sing.
While indwelt with the Spirit who is our guarantee of future glory, full expression of all God has made us to be is kept at bay as we await full redemption. We see the earth constrained and people restrained. We languish under violence and threats to life and well-being. We groan under the weight of immoral and wicked influences on ourselves and those we love. We must daily remind ourselves that God reigns! (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14)
When disillusioned at relational dissension and fractures, ascribe to the Lord His unified worth! When stricken with worry or longing for justice, exult in the Lord and tremble at His holiness! Where am I refusing to sing because of tumultuous circumstances or current despair, when I could practice praise with hope of promised relief? When and how will I voice His praises here as a foretaste of eternity? How is my life echoing all creation’s cry, Come, Lord Jesus!? (Revelation 22:20)
Lord on high, tune my heart and voice to sing Your praise, joining with all creation in proclaiming You as our only hope, glory, joy, and crown.
As the rain and snow 