Psalm 96-101

Psalm 96-101

            Today’s psalms are a series of songs of praise, in many ways overlapping each other in theme and content. If we look for a progression it seems to be that they move from the world in general toward a more specific focus on Israel. Psalm 96 calls for the Lord to be exalted among the nations and looks for His righteous judgment. His people will be judged faithfully. Psalm 97 describes the Lord in His majesty in terms redolent of Mt. Sinai, “clouds and thick darkness.” This is very much Israel’s God who comes to judge, who will put to shame idolaters. In Psalm 98, this majestic God is the one who does marvelous things, especially making his salvation and righteousness known to the nations. That is, His rescue of Israel is His claim to fame, even among the pagans. Psalm 99 continues the trend: the nations tremble. Why? Because the Lord is with Israel. I’m reminded of the fear of Jericho because the Lord was with Israel. Without the Lord Israel is just a ragtag band of immigrants; with Him, she is a force to be feared despite the greatness of their walls and army. By Psalm 100, then, what is left to do but to go to the temple and rejoice that we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 101 is again a psalm of David, and he has internalized the struggle: he hates evil, conducts himself according to the Law of God, and so the raging of the nations doesn’t bother him.