Psalm 21:8-10 - March 4, 2009

Ps 21:8-10 "Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes. 9 At the time of your appearing you will make them like a fiery furnace. In his wrath the LORD will swallow them up, and his fire will consume them. 10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind." NIV

The way that God presents himself to the earth through the pages of scripture is very clear in the message that he brings to those who will listen. He is thoroughly patient in his dealings with man in regard to sin and human weakness, so much so that many accuse God of being unjust or unconcerned with man’s suffering. Yet, even though he is longsuffering in his effort to bring man to repentance rather than to judgment, when he determines that it is time for his hand of discipline to fall he moves quickly. This passage gives us a very direct reminder that when the Lord’s hand is raised against those he chooses to oppose it is a fearful thing and a warning to all who stand by and observe his mighty acts.
David speaks as one who has witnessed the wrath of God. “You lay hold on all your enemies!” When God chooses to lay hold of someone or some group of people there is no escaping his grasp. Imagine being seized by the hand of God. This is the image of absolute restraint. David speaks of the wrath of God swallowing up and his fire consuming. When something has been swallowed or consumed by fire it is completely devoured and irreversible. When the government or the bank comes and seizes your property the use of force will not reverse the power of their grasp, only bringing the governing power to the place of changing its decision will avail in being released from this power. In the same way once God has determined to act he is swift and resolute and no power can restrain him but the power of repentance and prayer.
Oh, that man might fear the Lord. David’s psalm is a reminder that the good shepherd is also the righteous judge. In Proverbs 9:10 Solomon tells us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” The word of God calls to us through its pages inquiring as to who will choose wisdom over the pleasures of this life. Jonah 2:8 states that “those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” It is man who forfeits the gracious blessings of God through his pursuit of that which is deemed worthless in the context of eternity. God has laid up unspeakable blessings for those who will follow but man must choose. In the same way that Satan tempted Jesus his offer has not changed over all of these years. “You can have it all now, only worship me!” Yet God holds out his hand and offers life and peace through the path of obedient reverence to God. Choose wisely in every choice that you make today!