It’s easy to wish evil upon those who have hurt or harmed us. How many times have you heard or uttered the phrase sweet revenge? It seems only natural to give back what we think people deserve, but I would venture to say that most of us know from experience how fruitless and unfulfilling that is.
Through Obadiah, God promised to restore God’s kingdom in Mount Zion – not so that retaliation and vengeance can occur, but so that God’s people will rule justly and fairly. God promised that it would be a safe and holy place. There would be respite for God’s people, and they would rule in a way that brought honor to God.
I imagine that the Israelites looked to the fulfillment of this promise with great longing and hope. It would be an event to celebrate. Pondering this led me to one of my favorite psalms of praise. Psalm 48:11-14 reads:
Let Mount Zion be glad,
Let the towns of Judah rejoice
Because of your judgments.
Walk about Zion, go all around it,
Count its towers,
Consider well its ramparts;
Go through its citadels,
That you may tell the next generation
That this is God,
Our God forever and ever.
He will be our guide forever.
The King James Version translates the first part of verse 11, “Let Mount Zion rejoice.” I love that phrase, and that was my inspiration for the piece I am planning to play for the offertory on Sunday. It begins with a dramatic introduction that pictures the beginning of Psalm 48: “Great is the Lord!” It is followed by a song of celebration and praise that works itself nearly into a frenzy. I pray that you will rejoice with me as we remember that the promise given to the Israelites holds true for us: God will be our guide forever and ever! Let Mount Zion rejoice!
- Shelton