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“Rejoice
in the LORD, ye righteous; and
give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” ~
Psalms 97:12
God’s holiness is commended to our remembrance.
It is not the doctrine of
God’s holiness that we are to remember, but His real holiness.
His actual holiness causes the righteous to rejoice and give thanks.
They rejoice and are thankful for His holiness.
God’s holiness is set forth throughout this Psalm.
Let us come aside and remember His holiness.
His holiness is supreme, for “The
LORD reigneth” (Psa. 97:1). None
can ascend above God or be comparable to Him.
None can even reckon the extent of His dominion—it encompasses all
things seen and unseen. Even
man’s imagination cannot place a figment above God for all the pagan
worshippers are confounded by His holiness (Psa. 97:7).
How can they figure it? How
can they fashion it? How can they
make a likeness of it? Though they
boast, they utterly fail—“For thou,
LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods” (Psa.
96:9). Even the idols must bow to
Him, “worship him, all ye gods”
(Psa. 97:7). Idolaters make no
progress against His holiness; it is even as Paul told Timothy of those who “resist
the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.”
They fight against God, “But
they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men”
(II Tim. 3:8-9).
His holiness is terrible, for “Clouds
and darkness are round about him” (Psa. 97:2).
His holiness abides in righteousness and judgment.
In these, God delights. His
righteousness means He is faithful. Of
what He has purposed, not one tittle shall fail.
In holiness, He dwells in judgment—pleading the cause of the oppressed,
the fatherless, and the widow. He
hears the cry of their righteous blood and vindicates them.
If God calls you a worm, rejoice—it means He is taking up your cause.
For thus He spoke to Jacob, “Fear
not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of
His holiness is not passive, for “A
fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about” (Psa.
97:3). Neither is His holiness
contained or subdued. His holiness
is then victorious consuming His enemies. What
have we then to fear? The earth
trembles at His light (Psa. 97:4); “The
hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord
of the whole earth” (Psa. 97:5). Who
shall oppose any that are on the Lord’s side?
His holiness is not hidden. Even
the heavens cannot remain silent or indifferent, “The
heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory” (Psa.
97:6). The fool says there is no
God. The wicked refuse to
acknowledge Him and look blindly in the light of the
His holiness is had for His people.
“He preserveth the souls of his
saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart”
(Psa. 97:10-11). What a ground and
anchor is the Lord’s holiness! Those
who love Him love His holiness and therefore, “hate
evil” (Psa. 97:10). Why then are we troubled? Why then are we downcast? Why then do we presume to be trodden under to foot? His holiness is the rejoicing of our heart and the very knife cutting the taut sack, which bursts open with gratitude. His holiness is an impeccable light and there we have fellowship with Him. What a shame that any of His people should need reminded to remember His holiness and give thanks. May our hearts and minds soar upward in the quiet gray of the morning when we render thanks unto Him for the day He has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in the light of the day that declares His righteousness unto us. “Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness” (Psa. 97:12).
For Christ and His Kingdom, Jeff Short |