Holy God, Psalm 99

Do you feel that the world is out of control? Does it seem as if injustice triumphs?

Read Psalm 99!

This psalm is a great antidote for worldly overload. It's a reminder of God's faithfulness throughout his dealings with his covenant people. And it emphasizes God's supreme holiness.

The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
The LORD is great in Zion;
he is exalted over all the peoples (verses 1-2).

It may seem as if earthquakes are random natural events, but even these events in nature are under God's control. This Psalm makes it sound as if the earth itself trembles at the majesty of God. Because God reigns as the Most High over all creation, all people are called to praise him (verse 3):

Let them praise your great and awesome name!
Holy is he!

God is not only powerful and holy, he is also just.

The King in his might loves justice.
You have established equity;
you have executed justice
and righteousness in Jacob (4).


The name "Jacob" can be considered as a synonym for "Israel" or the peole of God in all times and all places. But its use here is interesting since Jacob means "deceiver" and Jacob's early years were not characterized by "justice" or "equity" or "righteousness." God is the covenant God of Jacob; however, and he loves justice. He has established equity and executed justice and righteousness to his people and through his sinful servant Jacob.

Verse 5 is a rousing call to exalt the Lord and worship our holy God:

Exalt the LORD our God;
worship at his footstool!
Holy is he!

The psalm then reminds us of God's covenantal relationship with his people during Old Testament days:

Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.
They called to the LORD, and he answered them.
In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them;
they kept his testimonies
and the statute that he gave them (6-7).

God's glory was present in the pillar of cloud during Israel's wanderings in the desert. His people called on his name and he answered them; he gave them statutes and they obeyed him. No Old Testament patriarchs or New Testament saints obeyed God perfectly, but God forgave their sins. Sin is rarely without consequences; however, and all sin must be paid for--either by ourselves or by another (Heidelberg Catechism Q & A 12).

O LORD our God, you answered them;
you were a forgiving God to them,
but an avenger of their wrongdoings (8).

How should we respond to our righteous and holy God who hates sin, but provided salvation through the perfect atonement of his Son? We should exalt his name and fall on our face in worship (verse 9):

Exalt the LORD our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for the LORD our God is holy!

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Dawn Treader navigates new waters without sinking

The latest movie in the "Chronicles of Narnia" series faithfully represents some important aspects from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in a film full of visual delight and exciting action. But uncompromising Narnia fans should be aware that the Dawn Treader takes some unexpected plot tacks by sailing into entirely new waters.

The movie's special effects are excellent, with realistically undulating waves and a believably hideous sea serpent. Viewers can choose between 3D and 2D versions, but I don't think the extra expense for 3D is necessarily worth it. I noticed 3D effects more during the previews than during the movie.

Modern movie viewers would probably not see enough excitement in Caspian's desire to find seven lost lords, so movie makers interjected a quest for the swords of the lords, which all must be laid on Aslan's table in order to destroy an evil green mist.

The interjection of the sword quest is a definite departure from the straight course of the book, but it can be viewed as demonstrating some biblical truths. The green mist affects people's minds and actions, influencing them to choose sinful behaviors. Characters must exhibit great strength of will to resist its temptations. The swords are wonderful weapons that can be used wisely or foolishly. Although the swords are valuable and useful, characters must lay them self-sacrificially on Aslan's table. I see biblical parallels on multiple levels, which enables me to accept the quest with little dissent.

If viewers can live with these plot injections, the other plot discrepancies seem minor. Most changes obviously have been made to condense the story and make it more exciting.

I've come to expect that my favorite novels will not translate accurately from my imagination to the big screen. And I've finally figured out what makes the difference between changes I don't mind and those I mind very much.

I understand that action is the cinema king. The maxim for writing novels is, "show, don't tell," but the canon for making movies is, "show, and sell." The visually exciting movie sells more tickets and garners more profits.

Since I understand that basic Hollywood principle, I don't mind seeing a plot manipulated to maximize action. So what if some events are condensed or changed to create more suspense? I don't mind as long as the events reflect the truth conveyed in the novel.

What I do mind is when movie makers mess with truth and character. I minded very much the introduction of conflict between Peter and Caspian and the introduction of a romance between Caspian and Susan in Prince Caspian, because these things twisted the character of the characters, which in turn twisted the truth. And another important writing maxim (even, and perhaps especially, for fiction) is, "Write what's true."

The Dawn Treader movie depicts many truths from the book. Lucy longs to be as beautiful as her older sister, Susan, and the movie aptly conveys her struggle and the ensuing realization of her self worth. Some characters introduced into the narrative earn a place by helping demonstrate this. Although Eustace's life as a dragon differs between book and movie, it remains a character altering experience with Aslan removing the "old man" or dragon as the case may be. Reepicheeps' friendship with Eustace the dragon as well as Reep's personal quest to find Aslan's land are retained in the movie.

The best part of the film is its excellent conclusion, which lifts accurate dialogue directly from the book in, what was to me, a surprising move from modern movie makers.

As always, my advice is to read the book first. And don't let the plot changes keep you from enjoying this delightful movie.

© Glenda Mathes

This movie review appeared on pages 47 & 50 in the January 12, 2011 issue of Christian Renewal.

Joyful Judgment, Psalm 98

Does the title "Joyful Judgment" seem like an oxymoron to you?

It may, unless you read Psalm 98, which reflects such joyful anticipation of Christ's return that one almost hopes Harold got one thing right.

Harold Camping is the voice of Family Radio, which has some edifying programs (Radio Reading Circle, Family Bible Reading Fellowship), but is also the sounding board for Harold's aberrant theological views regarding the church age and his preposterous prophetical predictions. He currently predicts that "the Bible guarantees" Judgment Day on May 21, 2011.

The Bible assures us that "no one" knows that day and hour, not even the angels in heaven or the Son, but only the Father (Matthew 24: 36, Mark 13:32). So I'm pretty sure Harold Camping hasn't received some secret revelation. Although I admit there are times when I long so much for that day that I almost hope Harold is right.

And reading Psalm 98 certainly makes one long for that day. Psalm 98 is subtitled "Make a Joyful Noise to the LORD" in my regular English Standard Version Bible and "Let the sea roar" in my Literary Study Bible ESV.

The psalm rocks with praise, beginning with these marvelous and familiar words:

Oh sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him (verse 1).

Salvation is one of the most marvelous and most powerful things God has done. But he hasn't kept it a secret revealed only to a chosen few; he has made it known throughout the world:

The LORD has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations (2).

God has revealed salvation globally, but God's global revelation has been particularized in his covenant relationship with those he loves, the chosen nation of believers, Abraham's true children.

He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God (3).

Because all the earth can see how God's love and faithfulness to believers never fails, the whole earth should joyfully praise God (4-6):

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!

The above verses certainly seem to shoot down arguments against instruments in worship. God loves the joyful noise of praise! And he commands the use of various instruments.

The biblical image of the sea often represents nations in a rebellious uproar, but in this psalm it is coupled with the world's people and seems to be part of the teeming creation praising God with a joyful noise (7):

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!

Creation and creatures unite in praise to the Creator! Why?

Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
before the LORD, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity (8-9).

Creation and Christians rejoice with wild abandon because the Lord is coming! He is coming to judge the world and its people.

It may seem odd to equate such animated praise with Christ's judgment, but that is the reality for believers. The unrepentant and unbelieving do well to tremble in silent contemplation of Christ's return, but repentant believers join creation in recognition of Christ the Creator and the King. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity. He will free believers from this constant death and turn their mourning into everlasting song!

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Global glory and heavenly heights, Psalm 97

As I sit in a cluttered office, feeling sorry for myself on Day 2 of some sort of stomach flu and dreading the negative 11 degrees forecast for tonight, it's good to remove my mind from my messy home and trivial trials by reading Psalm 97.

This psalm lifts the reader's thoughts from the narrow confines of one's mind and transports them into global glory and heavenly heights.

The first verse sings of creation's joy in God's sovereignty:

The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!

Verse 2 depicts righteousness and justice as twin pillars upholding God's throne:

Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Verses 3-7 convey God's power in creation and against his enemies:

Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods!

When the people of the earth see God's glory and majesty, they tremble and are put to shame. But believers rejoice in God's judgments:

Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O LORD.
For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods (8-9).

God's inevitable and impending judgment is a wake-up call for believers. They first must reject all the sin in their personal lives; then they are to trust God for deliverance from deadly peril and wicked persecution.

O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked (10).

Those who love the Lord and genuinely repent from their sin have hope for light and joy:

Light is sown for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart (11).

We may not harvest the light and joy, but it is a reality because God plants it in our hearts. Even when we don't feel happy or light-hearted, we can have true joy in our hearts by thanking God (verse 12).

Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!

We can thank God for his great gift of salvation. We can thank him for his sovereignty over all creation and all people. We can rejoice in the Lord when we meditate on his majesty evidenced in global glory and heavenly heights.

Ascribing glory, Psalm 96

Although Psalm 90 may rate as my favorite psalm (see my post of 20 December 2010), Psalm 96 could be designated as my "theme" psalm. Psalm 96 generated the name of this blog and its purpose.

The title of this blog, Ascribelog, has a double meaning:
1) It is a blog that ascribes glory to God (ascribe blog), and
2) it is a journal of a writer (a scribe log).

Every day it is my prayer that God will use me to further his kingdom and bring him glory. I pray daily for him to guide my work, for his creative spirit to spark my creativity, for him to enable me to sing a new song and declare his glory among the nations.

The first three verses of Psalm 96 say:

Oh sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth!
Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!

The next three verses (4-6) explain why all believers should want to sing a new song:

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

And the following three verses (7-9) reflect my personal calling and that of all believers:

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth!

God calls each one of us to give God all the glory in our families and nations, in our work and worship. As the source of all glory and strength, he alone deserves all praise and all glory. Out of our overwhelming gratitude, we offer him our tithes in corporate worship, our donations to kingdom causes, and our entire lives of service. We worship God in the splendor of his holiness, which causes us to tremble.

We may not remain silent; we have a responsibility to proclaim God's goodness in global contexts:

Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity" (verse 10).

God reigns. He is sovereign over all our joys as well as our sorrows, our blessings as well as our adversities, our honors as well as our humiliations.

Despite personal distress and global disaster, God reigns over the people and creation he has established. As long as the earth remains, springtime and harvest, summer and winter shall not cease (Genesis 8:22). He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8, Joshua 1:5, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Hebrews 13:5).

Because God is always with us and continues to care for his world, all of creation can rejoice:

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness (11-13).

Every aspect of creation will rejoice when Christ returns. Just as the morning stars sang at creation (Job 38:7), the trees will sing for joy when the Lord returns to make all things new.

The Lord will come in judgment, but his judgment will be in righteousness and faithfulness. He knows the hearts of every person; he will judge every believer based on the righteousness of Christ. No one can stand on the strength of personal righteousness; we are all sinners who have fallen far short of God's perfect standard. But repentant sinners have no need to fear God's just judgment.

Thanks be to God for his great salvation through Christ Jesus! Sing a new song! Ascribe to God all the glory!

Split Personality, Psalm 95

At first glance, Psalm 95 appears to suffer from a split personality.

This familiar psalm begins with a rousing call to worship:

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! (verses 1-2)

The next three verses give reasons why God is worthy of adoration:

For the LORD is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land (3-5).

God is the Most High; he created all things and he continues to sustain all things. Even the sea (often a biblical synonym for rebellious peoples) is his; he made it and it remains under his control.

The Psalmist again calls us to worship:

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! (6)

The first three lines of verse 7 again give reasons for adoration, but they are more personal this time:

For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.

Not only is God the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, but he is also the Great Shepherd who cares for his sheep. He is our God. We find refuge and refreshment in his pasture. We are the "sheep of his hand," which conveys that he made us and he cares for us. Notice, please, that we are his sheep. He isn't a hired hand who doesn't really care about the sheep. No, we belong to him.

But the last line of verse 7 signals a sudden shift. Adoration is replaced by admonition. What begins as a warning from the psalmist transforms into the very voice of God:

Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
when your fathers put me to the test
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
For forty years I loathed that generation
and said, "They are a people who go astray in their heart,
and they have not known my ways."
Therefore I swore in my wrath,
"They shall not enter my rest" (7b-11).

What are we to make of this psalm's apparent split personality?

Certainly these final few verses are a warning about hardening one's heart against the work of the Holy Spirit. They warn us against unbelief in the face of God's amazing love and provision. They warn us to guard our hearts and to study God's Word. God clearly indicates that rebellious and sinful people will never enter his rest.

But how do all those warnings fit with the first part of the psalm?

I believe it is helpful to remember that biblical teaching associates rest with worship. This brings to mind Q & A 103 of the Heidelberg Catechism (recently mentioned on this blog):

103 Q. WHAT IS GOD’S WILL FOR US
IN THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT?
A. First,
that the gospel ministry and education for it be maintained,
and that, especially on the festive day of rest,
I regularly attend the assembly of God's people
to learn what God's Word teaches,
to participate in the sacraments,
to pray to God publicly,
and to bring Christian offerings for the poor.

Second,
that every day of my life
I rest from my evil ways,
let the Lord work in me through his Spirit,
and so begin already in this life
the eternal Sabbath.

God calls us to corporate worship on "the festive day of rest." And he calls us each day to "rest" from our evil ways. We are not "resting" from sin when we harden our hearts to the Spirit's leading, or when we doubt God in the face of his amazing provision, or when our hearts wander and our feet stray. In these case, we actively pursue sin.

God will not grant his rest to those who do not rest from sin. If we want to enter God's rest in worship and adoration, we must recognize our sin and repent from it.

Recall that 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnss."

God does not promise to cleanse us from "our trivial sins" or "some of our sins," but "all unrighteousness."

No sin, no matter how heinous in its actions or how far reaching in its consequences, is beyond God's forgiveness. The only sin that cannot be forgiven is blantant rejection of the Holy Spirit.

Do you find this difficult to believe? Do you feel as if God can't possibly forgive you and your particular sin?

Please note the placement of God's promise to cleanse you from "all unrighteousness": it is smack in the middle of two important verses. The verse directly before emphasizes the importance of recognizing sin:

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8).

Pride tops the nonexistent lists of pious people who fail to recognize their sins.

The verse following God's promise to forgive all our sins is a stark warning:

If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us (1 John 1:10).

Any hypocrite who doesn't really recognize and repent is a horrible sinner who actually calls God a liar! But, guess what? If you don't believe God can forgive your sin, you're calling him a liar, too!

The placement of that promise in between those two important verses is not coincidental. And the apparent sudden shift in Psalm 95 does not evidence a split personality. The construction of God's Word is never coincidental or contradictory.

God calls us to worship him. He alone is worthy of worship. He commands us to soften our hearts and turn from our sin. And then he assures us that he forgives even our worst sins. Repentent sinners will enter his rest.

Justice will return, Psalm 94

Feel like the wicked are doing a tap dance on your head? Read Psalm 94.

Many years ago, I heard a pastor use the tap dance illustration and the imagery has stuck in my mind. What an appropriate analogy for those times in life when you feel that evil beats your brain in an oppressive staccato rhythym of pain!

My New King James Version (NKJV) subtitles Psalm 94 "God the Refuge of the Righteous." The subtitle in my English Standard Version (ESV) is "The LORD Will Not Forsake His People," quoting from verse 14; while the prefatory remarks in my ESV Literary Study Bible are titled "Justice will return to the righteous," a quote from verse 15.

Psalm 94 is, indeed, all about God the refuge of the righteous who does not forsake his people and will restore justice to them. It begins with a cry for vengeance:

O LORD, God of vengeance,
O God of vengeance, shine forth!
Rise up, O judge of the earth;
repay to the proud what they deserve! (ESV, 1-2)

Then it catalogs the evil deeds of the wicked:

O LORD, how long shall the wicked,
how long shall the wicked exult?
They pour out their arrogant words;
all the evildoers boast.
They crush your people, O LORD,
and afflict your heritage.
They kill the widow and the sojourner,
and murder the fatherless;
and they say, "The LORD does not see;
the God of Jacob does not perceive" (3-7).

Their belief that God doesn't see their sin demonstrates their ignorance:

Understand, O dullest of the people!
Fools, when will you be wise?
He who planted the ear, does he not hear?
He who formed the eye, does he not see?
He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke?
He who teaches man knowledge—
the LORD—knows the thoughts of man,
that they are but a breath (8-11).

It is comforting to be assured of God's sovereignty and omniscience as well as the brevity of wicked men, however, we don't usually think of discipline as a blessing:

Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD,
and whom you teach out of your law,
to give him rest from days of trouble,
until a pit is dug for the wicked (12-13).

It's instructive that the sentence speaking of discipline as a blessing links discipline with biblical instruction and restful relief. This sentence also includes a promise that God will deal with the wicked. And God will not forget his people:

For the LORD will not forsake his people;
he will not abandon his heritage;
for justice will return to the righteous,
and all the upright in heart will follow it (14-15).

God will never leave us or forsake us. He will bring justice into our lives, enabling the "upright in heart" to follow the just path and the righteous way. The assurance that God will not abandon us is followed by a couple of rhetorical questions:

Who rises up for me against the wicked?
Who stands up for me against evildoers? (16).

The Psalmist reiterates the obvious answer by affirming his total dependence upon the Lord's sustaining love:

If the LORD had not been my help,
my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
When I thought, "My foot slips,"
your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up (17-18).

Remembering God's sovereignty, his omniscience, and his steadfastness enables the Psalmist to feel joy even when his heart is burdened:

When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul (19).

That's a good verse to write on a card and stick on your refrigerator or above your monitor!

Even under the oppression of evil leaders or governments, believers can take refuge in God and trust him to wipe out the wicked:

Can wicked rulers be allied with you,
those who frame injustice by statute?
They band together against the life of the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
But the LORD has become my stronghold,
and my God the rock of my refuge.
He will bring back on them their iniquity
and wipe them out for their wickedness;
the LORD our God will wipe them out (20-23).

Evil people may seem to have the upper hand. They may go on shooting rampages or enact unjust laws. But God is our stronghold; he is the rock of our refuge. When the cares of your heart are many, remember that God's steadfast love sustains you. Let his consolations cheer your soul. He will not forsake his people or abandon his heritage. Justice will return to the righteous!

Today on Capital Commentary

The Center for Political Justice recently asked some writers to comment on the most important political event of 2010. I was one of those writers and my response appears today (and I believe today only) in the Dialogue section of CPJ's online publication: Capital Commentary.

Praise in the flood, Psalm 93

God never ceases to amaze me.

It's likely because I'm such a slow learner that God continues teaching me the same lessons over and over. But I believe an additional reason is that God delights in delighting his children.

This morning I was extremely delighted to see once again God's perfect timing!

For the last few weeks, I've been getting discouraged by an editing project that seemed to grow rather than diminish. Concerns for others have been weighing heavily on my mind. And while I've enjoyed great fellowship with family as well as old and new friends, our household continues to be pretty hectic.

While I plodded through the seemingly unending editing project, I was unable to open email attachments containing two other large editing projects, in spite of repeated attempts from many people. This was frustrating, of course, but it actually reduced my stress level during this busy time of year because I didn't have opened files waiting for my attention. When these two additional projects came to mind, I thought, "Well, I won't worry about those for right now. I don't have working files yet anyway."

This morning I finally finished the mammoth editing project. And when I went into my email account to send those files off, what should I find but new files of the other two projects waiting for me! And, wonder of wonders, I finally was able to open them!

The amazing timing made me break into praise that was very nearly Pentecostal: Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

Psalm 93, which is next in my meditational schedule, seems altogether appropriate:

The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.

The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods lift up their roaring.
Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
mightier than the waves of the sea,
the LORD on high is mighty!

Your decrees are very trustworthy;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, forevermore.

Over the surging of the floods and the roar of their waters, God reigns in imperturbable majesty. His throne is from everlasting. His decrees are trustworthy. He is in control of all the turbulent and traumatic events of our lives.

In his perfect timing, he will still the storm and draw back the flood. Even though it may seem as if we will know only despair and sorrow for the rest of our lives, God will rescue us in his perfect timing. He will restore hope and joy.

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

Sunrise, Sunset: Views from Space

Viewing these incredible pictures from space has profoundly affected my concepts of time and reality.

The sun setting in the thin blue line of earth's atmosphere.

My Facebook friend, E. Calvin Beisner, alerted me to the existence of these picture by posting a link to them in a recent status line. They were taken by NASA astronaut Douglas H. Wheelock during his recent command of the International Space Station and the Expedition 25 crew. During his stay at the station, he tweeted pictures and comments to his followers. If you go to this link, you can view all of the pictures and share in Astronaut Wheelock's wonder at sights such as the above sunset and the Space Station reflected in the Earthshine from this blue sunrise.

Sunrise in earth's razor thin atmosphere.

Astronaut Wheelock writes that the Space Station, traveling at 17,500 miles per hour (five miles per second) orbits Earth every 90 minutes with a sunrise or a sunset every 45 minutes. That's 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets each day of Earth orbit.

This gives amazing perspective to those words from Genesis 1, "There was evening and there was morning, the first [second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth] day." The fact that astronauts in the International Space Station view evening and morning every 90 minutes gives us an infinitesimal understanding of the nebulous nature of time. In ways far beyond what our finite minds can begin to grasp, God exists outside the constraints of time and space. As is so frequently the case, Psalm 90:4 comes to mind:

For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

We may toss in pain and turn feverish pillows, we may find no relief from overwhelming sorrow or insidious anxiety, but our long sleepless nights will end. The reality is that they will end sooner than we think.

Astronaut Wheelock writes about the blue line of Earth's atmopshere, "That beautiful thin blue line is what makes our home so special in the cosmos. Space is cool…but, the Earth is a raging explosion of life in a vast sea of darkness."

We tend to think of ourselves and our world as the center of the universe, if not as the only reality, but the truth is that each individual and even our entire world--teeming with life and beauty--are very small compared to the vastness of space.

And even what Astronaut Wheelock calls the "vast sea of darkness" that is the immensity of space cannot be compared to the vast sea of light that is God.

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love (Micah 7:18).

Our afflictions may seem too much to bear. We may feel as if God's fierce anger burns against us in a consuming fire. But just as we can't grasp the reality of existence outside time and space, we can't grasp the reality of God's delight in steadfast love.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness (Lamentation 2:22-23).