Psalm 97
The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.
For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
Ye that Love the Lord, hate evil: 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.
Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
"The love of God is the source of all our blessings and joys, and God is love, but in a certain sense His holiness elevates us more. His love is perfect. We dwell in love, dwell in God, and God in us. It is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us. It is proved by the death of Christ, and so we are to walk in it. But it cannot be said we are love. God is sovereign in love,
“rich in mercy, [of] His great love wherewith He loved us.”All this is objectively blessedness, and in us, and enjoyed by us in communion.
Partakers of His Holiness
It is said we are “light in the Lord.” He makes us partakers of His holiness — partakers morally of the Divine Nature. No doubt we love, but we are light. How blessed this partaking of the divine nature! And to this we must have respect too in our relationships with God. We know, thank God, that He is love towards us, and indeed in us. But He is light, and as this tested man, so, in grace, man is made it, that is, the new man has this character,
“after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
J. N. Darby
Love and Holiness
*Photo by Marc Wieland on Unsplash
