"Our God makes His entrance..."

           Psalm 50 (The Message)

^1-3 The God of gods—it's God!— speaks out, shouts, "Earth!" 

      welcomes the sun in the east, 
      farewells the disappearing sun in the west. 
   From the dazzle of Zion, 
      God blazes into view. 
   Our God makes his entrance, 
      he's not shy in his coming. 
   Starbursts of fireworks precede him. 

 ^4-5 He summons heaven and earth as a jury, 
      he's taking his people to court: 
   "Round up my saints who swore 
      on the Bible their loyalty to me." 

 ⁶ The whole cosmos attests to the fairness of this court, 
      that here God is judge. 

 ^7-15 "Are you listening, dear people? I'm getting ready to speak; 
      Israel, I'm about ready to bring you to trial. 
   This is God, your God, 
      speaking to you. 
   I don't find fault with your acts of worship, 
      the frequent burnt sacrifices you offer. 
   But why should I want your blue-ribbon bull, 
      or more and more goats from your herds? 
   Every creature in the forest is mine, 
      the wild animals on all the mountains. 
   I know every mountain bird by name; 
      the scampering field mice are my friends. 
   If I get hungry, do you think I'd tell you? 
      All creation and its bounty are mine. 
   Do you think I feast on venison? 
      or drink draughts of goats' blood? 
   Spread for me a banquet of praise, 
      serve High God a feast of kept promises, 
   And call for help when you're in trouble— 
      I'll help you, and you'll honor me."

I just love the verbiage Eugene Peterson uses in translating this Psalm!  Can't you just picture yourself there?  

It is the middle of a normal day, when you first feel the ground under your feet begin to shake.  

Fearful of a possible earthquake, your begin to whisper a prayer for safety.  Suddenly, you notice

that the sky looks different; the stars seem to be out in the middle of the day.  Are those falling stars?  

Why are they shimmering in bursts like that?  What an amazing view!  The breeze that was gently

caressing your cheek begins to pick up its pace.  A sense of awe surrounds you.  Not one

sound is heard as the earth bows in preparation.  As the hairs stand up on your arms and legs,

you realize that this is the moment for which you have waited all of your life.  Today, you will

see with your eyes what you have only been able to see with your heart.  Uncertain of what's to

come, yet breathless with anticipation, you turn your eyes toward the awakening mountain.  

Doesn't it just take your breath away?  What an awesome God we serve!  One day, all of creation will stand as witnesses to His supreme power, majesty, and grace!  I am mesmerized by the picture of God coming down from His holy mountain to seek me out. What an honor to have the Almighty Creator personally meet with each one of us!

One of my favorite places to encounter God is at the edge of an ocean.  I am amazed by the power that body of water represents.  The contrast from calm and peaceful to enraged and fearsome both fascinates and astounds me.  I find that, for me, it is easy to see God as my friend - calm, peaceful, and loving.  Nevertheless, I am most in awe of my God when I can see a small inkling of the power He possesses.  I am thankful that I don't serve a god that I can control.  The incredible strength that I find in Him is the very reason I can rely on Him.  As I stand before the raging waves of an angry sea, I realize how small I really am and just how wonderfully big my God is!