Psalm 97 The Fire of God

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

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Psalm 97:1-12 -1 The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice! Let the farthest islands be glad.
2 Clouds and darkness surround him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes forth before him and burns up all his foes.
4 His lightning flashes out across the world. The earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness; every nation sees his glory.
7 Those who worship idols are disgraced— all who brag about their worthless gods— for every god must bow to him.
8 Jerusalem F80 has heard and rejoiced, and all the cities of Judah are glad because of your justice, LORD!
9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
10 You who love the LORD, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.
11 Light shines on the godly, and joy on those who do right.
12 May all who are godly be happy in the LORD and praise his holy name!
FOOTNOTES: F80: Hebrew Zion. Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
There are certain elements that are of multi-use. For example, the same fire that gives light and warmth can also melt whatever it touches and alter its state forever. That same fire can purify a substance for further and greater use, yet utterly destroy another substance.
What makes the difference in the effect?
The substance has a lot to do with it.
If hay – poof it’s gone, not a trace left.
If gold- it is purified, made to be of greater value than the original product. It is altered, and changed, but not utterly destroyed.
The fire of God will test the substances of the earth.
It can impassion us and change us into a greater form with greater value, or it could utterly destroy all we’ve known ourselves to be.
There’s a NT scripture that says, all will go through the fire, some will be destroyed, some saved yet greatly marred, but at least they remain unto eternal life.
When the fire of God passes through the earth, and it will whether we believe it or not, of what substance are we? Of what result will we be? Saved though marred? Changed into a greater degree or value?
What we’ve become by submission to Christ while we walk this way will tell all in that end.
1 Cor 3: 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Daily Recital Verses –

Psalms 118:24 This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Prov 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.