This is the message of the Psalm - “The Lord
reigneth.” The keynote here is the reign of God. To the wicked, it spells
misery; to the believer, it is the inauguration of harmony and joy.
“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice.” The
Lord’s sovereignty should cause all people to be glad but such is not the case
and the reason being sinners fear when God reigns; they don’t want God as their
ruler. Why would they? They fear His judgment. They know what they are doing
are evil and they will face the wrath of God: “A fire goeth before him, and
burneth up his enemies round about” (vs 3).
God is holy and therefore, “righteousness and
judgment are the habitation of his throne” (vs 2b). Therefore, the Lord’s
reign can only be a source of joy to those who love righteousness, to those who
will submit to His rule and judgment.
Unbelievers challenge God’s reign and accuse Him of
being the author of evil. They blame God for the suffering of the innocents,
for the natural calamities, and for the sicknesses and diseases. One writer
wrote: “But taking God out of the picture does not solve the problem of
evil. In a world without God, little kids would still get blown up by
terrorists and swept away by floods and die by disease. If you eliminate God,
all you do is eliminate hope and justice. You turn the world into a very bleak
place. If you’re lucky enough to be born in America, you might survive longer
than the kid born in Afghanistan, unless you’re so unlucky as to contract a
fatal disease. You live a few years and then you die. There’s no hope!”
But in spite of the fact that God’s sovereignty is
clearly taught in the Bible, many professing Christians do not want God to rule
their lives. They say God’s laws are too restrictive. They want to be
free.
Indeed, the idea of unlimited freedom may sound
appealing, especially to young people. Few enjoy having to live according to a
list of dos and don’ts. However, should everyone be free to do whatever he
wants? Imagine a city with no traffic laws. Imagine a nation with no law and
everyone does what is right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25). Imagine someone
could say anything he wants about you and you cannot do anything about it.
Would such “freedom” be desirable? Certainly not! The result would be chaos,
confusion, and catastrophe. The traffic laws that restrict drivers’ freedom,
protect other drivers as well as pedestrians.
Look at Job. He lost his possessions and children in
one day. Did he blame God? Did he attribute those “evils” to God? He did not.
Instead he blessed God (Job 1:21). “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged
God foolishly” (Job 1:22). Job submitted to the will of God. So the truth
that the Lord reigns is a cause for rejoicing if we submit to His sovereignty.
But if we do not submit to His reign, that He is Lord, we will become depressed
and even angry when “bad” things happen.
The Lord reigns: Let those who love Him hate evil and
be glad in Him (vs 10). To those who love God and let Him reign in their lives.
God’s laws are not burdensome. Instead, God’s laws help them to live godly and
holy lives: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against
thee” (Psalm 119:11). They love God’s laws and let them be their rule every
day of their lives: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
If we love God, we will hate evil. We will allow His
laws to be our rule. When the law of God is our standard and guide to living,
God reigns in our lives. May we rejoice and be glad that God reigns.
Jimmy Lau
Psa
119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
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