May 2, 2021
To join our online service at 9 am or after please visit: stmarkknox.org/sermons
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. 28 For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. – Psalm 22:27-28
The opening verse of Psalm 22 is well known because Jesus spoke the first words of that verse in deep agony from the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And much of the early part of the psalm is a terrifying account of bones out of joint, tongue stuck to the roof of the mouth, hands and feet pierced, people staring and gloating, clothes divided up and owned by drawing lots. It is a graphic and horrific prophecy of the Savior’s suffering.
But midway through the psalm, the tone changes as eyes are turned to the Lord who is the deliverer, the rescuer; and God’s people are called on to praise him, to honor him, to revere him because…
“The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him” (v. 26)
In other words, God provides and God saves, and therefore those who seek the Lord will have many reasons to remember and honor him.
The existence of God and the goodness of God are not contingent on everything in our lives going well. In this broken world we get sick. In this broken world there are disasters. In this broken world people do evil. But God is the same God, and continues to have no other plans in our lives than good plans, even if we can’t see them.
Sometimes it is the darkness in our lives that helps us to more appreciate the light of a life in God, for our Christ is the light of the world. When we see the light of Christ in others we understand that no matter where they live or where they are from on this planet, they, like we belong to God, and we have reason to remember and praise God for these sisters and brothers.
I imagine the psalmist, in this lament, is using all the emphasis possible to say that God is to be remembered to the ends of the earth, by every family, every tribe, and every race. In other words, there is no one on this earth excused from turning to God and bowing before him.
Our word ‘dominion’ originates from Latin and means ‘sovereign authority.’ Politicians debate how far a government’s reach should go. What are the limits to its authority? That’s a very necessary debate about human government.
But there is no debate about God’s reach because there is no limit to his authority. Our God is the only God and he rules over every nation, every tribe, and every people. His love and goodness are unlimited. His Son did not die for only one people but all people—men and women and children from every corner of this planet.
His authority is over all and his love covers all.
We remember and remain thankful that all includes us, so let us bring our praise before him now and always.
Grace & Peace,
Sam