What God expects of His people He expects in similar fashion from heavenly beings (89:5-7). Thus, He should be and is praised by the heavenly host (vs. 5) because He is beyond comparison even in the highest realm (6-7). He is unsearchably incomparable, unsurpassed in might, fearfully holy among angels “set apart” to Him, and absolutely transcendent above them all.
He is also sovereign over creation (8-13), over both nature (8-9) and history (10). “Rahab” does not refer to Joshua 2; rather, it is a metaphor of God’s victory over Egypt at the Red Sea. He possesses all He creates to do with as He chooses, both in heaven and on earth (11-12).
Tabor and Herman cover points west and east. Coupled with north and south, there is no place where God cannot be found and His self-revelation recognized.
Therefore, God’s people can recognize and personalize His qualities (13-18). This is possible because God created humankind in His image, which refers primarily to the capacity for meaningful relationship (Genesis 1:26-27).
The image involves three areas: Humankind is uniquely related to God; Humankind represents God in meaningful activity; and Humankind reflects the nature of God. This third area applies to how God’s qualities can be reflected in and by His people.
Through His power, He reveals His qualities in four ways (13-14). To be right is to conform to a standard. God is the perfect standard of rightness for us. Justice restores God’s standard of right. Will Durant defined justice as “the effective harmony of the whole.”
The many loving acts of God that He showers upon His people keep us moving forward and deeper into trust in Him. His truth (“faithfulness”) is like a banner going before Him.
These four qualities God makes known of Himself can receive an appropriate response in four ways (15-17). We can “know” His truth and then act on that knowledge as His will for our lives. We can live our lives in right “conduct” guided by the light of His truth (15).
Kierkegaard wrote, “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” Knowing God’s will and living rightly going forward bear out the worth of this observation. We can “rejoice” going forward in His lovingkindness.
Making right decisions along the way honors the Lord, lifts us up, and strengthens our faith (16-17). Verse 18 transitions the psalm to verses 19-37.
Dr. David Moore is a retired pastor and Bible teacher. Email: dm5867se@outlook.com
