He Summons!

“The Mighty One, God the Lord,
    speaks and summons the earth
    from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
    God shines forth.

Our God comes; he does not keep silence;
    before him is a devouring fire,
    around him a mighty tempest.
He calls to the heavens above
    and to the earth..:
‘Gather to me my faithful ones,
    who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!’
The heavens declare his righteousness,
    for God himself is judge! 

‘Hear, O my people, and I will speak;
    O Israel, I will testify against you.
    I am God, your God.
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you;
    your burnt offerings are continually before me.
I will not accept a bull from your house
    or goats from your folds.
For every beast of the forest is mine,
    the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the hills,
    and all that moves in the field is mine.

‘If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
    for the world and its fullness are mine.
Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?
Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
    and perform your vows to the Most High,
and call upon me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.

‘The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
    to one who orders his way rightly
    I will show the salvation of God!'” Psalm 50:1-15,23

The psalmist arrests his listeners and exalts God who summons and speaks, declaring His ownership of all the earth and worthiness of attention and thanksgiving. The Lord renounces self-directed worship and platitudes, demanding instead gratitude, obedience, and dependence. He is Lord, the people are not. He is to be heeded and glorified.

An independent spirit provoked by self-will does not sit right with God. Many are the impulses of the flesh, yet when the Lord summons, His sovereign love and power demand our full attention. While He might be pleased with pure intent, He prefers we align with His grander purposes, knowing that only there is true fulfillment. (2 Samuel 7:1-13; Psalm 46:10; Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 1:16-20)

How does the Lord summon? He speaks through His living word, proclaiming and beckoning in unshakable truth. His Holy Spirit prompts and reminds, convicts and leads. He speaks through His people and creation to inform and confirm. Often we rue that we cannot detect His voice, yet if we’re honest, we tend to listen for what, and how, we want to hear. Actually, we either refuse what has already been declared, or are too entrenched in our chosen sources of information that we cannot distinguish His voice. (Psalm 32:8; John 14:26; 16:8; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12)

When are we actually still and attentive enough to discern God’s voice? Where do we take time ‘in the Spirit’? How open are we to a new repentance, mindset, call, or direction? What hurry and busyness is God prompting us to set aside for quiet and concentration so we’re available for His conviction, revelation, and summons? The mighty One speaks. Are we gathered- senses and will- to listen? (1 Samuel 3:1-10; Ezekiel 8:1-5; Revelation 1:9-19)

Lord, keep my ear attuned, my heart open, and my body willing, for Your summons, to Your glory.