For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1 God is renowned in Judah; in Israel his name is great.
2 His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There he broke the flashing arrows, the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.
4 You are radiant with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.
5 The valiant lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep;
not one of the warriors can lift his hands.
6 At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still.
7 It is you alone who are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry?
8 From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet—
9 when you, God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land.
10 Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.
11 Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands
bring gifts to the One to be feared.
12 He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.
Many kinds of war have been happening on earth by the hands of rulers who are powerful, but not fearful of anyone, so they even attack its neighboring lands. They bring all kinds of disasters and pains to all the afflicted men and women living their daily lives as common people. They could think that they are overpowering the world and won the battle or wars, but it's not true. Historically and biblically, they are not winners but losers.
Most of all, God is angry at them and would judge them at His rebuke. They have no knowledge, and they are too arrogant to see or honor God, rather they want to be honored by the conquered people, showing off their sovereignty. However, the only Sovereign Lord is God, the creator, Himself. He has been working through the history, and we know it well, looking back on the past history.
There are big and small wars happening here on earth at this moment, in African areas, in Myanmar, in the Middle East, and we are eyeing on the threat of Putin, the Russian president. They should know that the time would come soon when they sleep the last sleep and stand before the judge of the world. They have to stop all kinds of terror, harassing, and killing lives as they are all God's lovable and beloved human beings, if not, they can't avoid Father's anger.
I pray that the whole world could be with harmony in peace and dwell in God, rejoicing in this wonderful planet that God made for us wonderfully. I pray in Jesus, my Savior's name, amen.
