David Bahn – Reflections

The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
    let the many coastlands be glad!
² Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
³ Fire goes before him
    and burns up his adversaries all around.
⁴ His lightnings light up the world;
    the earth sees and trembles.
⁵ The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
    before the LORD of all the earth.

⁶ The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    and all the peoples see his glory.
⁷ All worshipers of images are put to shame,
    who make their boast in worthless idols;
    worship him, all you gods!

⁸ Zion hears and is glad,
    and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
    because of your judgments, O LORD.
⁹ For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
    you are exalted far above all gods.

¹⁰ O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
    He preserves the lives of his saints;
    he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
¹¹ Light is sown for the righteous,
    and joy for the upright in heart.
¹² Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
    and give thanks to his holy name!

We were working to renovate the church balcony after installing a new pipe organ in the church I was serving. That involved building risers for the choir, accommodating the organ console to a new orientation, and determining its placement. As we were working one of the main workers – who was taking the lead in the project – refused to make a simple decision. It was a matter of where to route the wiring harness for the organ. No big deal. But he didn’t want to make the decision. I told him, “Just put it there.”

He didn’t want to be in charge for whatever reason. Either he didn’t want to take any potential blame if he decided wrongly. Or he actually believed the decision should be made by a committee or someone officially designated to make the decision. Even, apparently, for the smallest of decisions.

Whoever is in charge takes responsibility for the decisions that are made, and the outcome of those decisions. While we may say, “You’re not the boss of me,” truth be told if you are the boss of me, you must take responsibility for what you make me do. Large and in charge has lots of perks, but its not without its responsibilities.

God is not just large and in charge. He reigns over all things. And therein lies the challenge for some of us all of the time, and all of us some of the time. God doesn’t always run his universe in the manner we would wish.

Our sons used to say, “If I were emperor of the universe…” and go on to describe the way things would be. From the way people drive to the way school was taught to the way we would spend our money.

But God needs no permission to make the laws of physics, morality, or spirituality. He reigns. He is above all things. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne,” says the Psalmist. He rules the world with truth and grace goes the sanza from Joy to the World. This is our God who is above all. He is in charge. So we say:

Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
    and give thanks to his holy name!