Psalm 76

0 To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.
1  In Judah God is known,
  his name is great in Israel.
2  His abode has been established in Salem,
  his dwelling place in Zion.
3  There he broke the flashing arrows,
  the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah
4  Glorious are you, more majestic
  than the everlasting mountains.
5  The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil;
  they sank into sleep;
 none of the troops
  was able to lift a hand.
6  At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
  both rider and horse lay stunned.
7  But you indeed are awesome!
  Who can stand before you
  when once your anger is roused?
8  From the heavens you uttered judgment;
  the earth feared and was still
9  when God rose up to establish judgment,
  to save all the oppressed of the earth. Selah
10  Human wrath serves only to praise you,
  when you bind the last bit of your wrath around you.
11  Make vows to the LORD your God, and perform them;
  let all who are around him bring gifts
  to the one who is awesome,
12  who cuts off the spirit of princes,
  who inspires fear in the kings of the earth.

Rock Creek, Sierra Nevada of California

Daily Prayer (based on Psalm 76:5)

Mighty God, among all the wonders of Your creation, mountains are perhaps my favorite. The vastness of the Sierra stretches my narrow soul. The sheer height of the Tetons humbles me. The jagged peaks that rip the clouds call me up higher. I long to feel their solidness, to gaze from their unhindered perspective. When I'm in the mountains, where glacial movement is measured in centuries, I feel the hurried blur of my existence getting clearer and slower. The mountains are, indeed, one of Your richest gifts, O God.

Yet they aren't safe. Mountain storms come quickly, often catching intruders unaware. Rockslides tumble without warning. Lightning strikes. Thunder rumbles. Winds roar like ferocious dragons. One must never take the mountains for granted, or treat them like gentle hills. Their roughness and majesty demand respect and awe.

You've given us mountains, Lord, to remind us of Your nature. Their glory points to an ever higher splendor, their power to an even greater strength. The highest peaks are, indeed, pointers to the heaven. They say, "If you think we're majestic, consider the one who made us. If you think we're impressive, bow before the magnificence of the Creator."

Postscript

As a Californian, I have ready access to the Sierra Nevada. I try to get to these mountains (which lie about a five-hour drive to the north) at least twice a year, more if possible. The picture to the left is of the Rock Creek basin in the Eastern Sierra. I highly recommend a visit to Rock Creek, even for those who aren't much into hiking. I took this picture about a half-mile from the trailhead, after walking on an unusually flat trail.

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Except for the Scripture text, all material of The Daily Psalm Copyright © 2006 by Mark D. Roberts

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The Scripture text used in The Daily Psalm is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved