Worship for Today: To be where the glory of the Lord dwells!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Psalm 85:9,
 
"Surely his salvation is near those who fear him [the Lord], that his glory may dwell in our land."

 

As the writer of this psalm ("of the Sons of Korah") makes his plea that the Lord restore Israel yet again, he makes this observation. His desire is that if Israel is restored, the glory of the Lord will return to her.

 

Those who acknowledge who the Lord actually is, those who have a clear view of him, will fear him. Because the Lord is fearsome in his anger and judgment, because the Lord is all powerful and supremely sovereign over all, the Lord is the One to fear, to have a deep sense of reverence for. The people who fear him are "near" his salvation.

 

While this is perhaps an obvious point, the writer is looking for the result that the Lord's glory "may dwell in our land." The thought of what this looks like captures my imagination this morning. What does a land, a country, a nation look like when the glory of the Lord dwells in it? Is there a reduced crime rate? Do the people treat one another differently, in a more loving manner? Is their relationship with other countries marked by honesty, integrity, sincerity and honor? Is there a higher standard of living in a land where the glory of the Lord dwells? Is there a sense of intrigue or enchantment, say, as in the Wizard of Oz, where seekers make their pilgrimage to where the glory of the Lord dwells?

 

I'll admit that these are rambling thoughts, but I find them helpful to muse about life in the resurrection where we will live in a land where the glory of the Lord dwells. My focus on what will be ours, what life will be, what our existence will be like with the Lord in the resurrection is woefully inadequate. I find such passages as this an opportunity to consider just how wonderful our inheritance in the resurrection will be. Surely, to be anywhere where the glory of the Lord is has to be breathtaking!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

 
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com