Tags
2 Kings 6, Chariots of fire, Elisha, God as defender of the vulnerable, God's power, Isaiah 66:15, Joy, Kings, Mercy, Psalm 24:8, Psalm 68:4, The majesty of God, The Mercy of God
Day 20
Friday, December 18
Psalm 68:4
Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
….lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds –
his name is the LORD –
….be exultant before him.
I love the image of God riding on the clouds. I know the classic idea is a chariot, and the psalm is a song of deliverance, of victory in battle, including such delightful lines as “God will shatter the heads of his enemies,” and others that are worse. But if we let the verse stand on its own for a moment, the image of surfing comes to mind – as if God were having fun in the richness of the creation.
The chariot was an instrument of war. Carrying archers, it was the high-speed mobile weapons platform of its time. On the battlefield it was feared. In solemn processions it spoke of power, like the old soviet May Day celebrations parading their missiles and tanks.
Since the ancient metaphors for God were based on the powerful, God is described as a great king, and kings have an army. Elisha sees a fiery chariot when Elijah is taken to heaven. And when his city is surrounded by the army of the king of Aram, with horses and chariots sent to capture him, the prophet prays for God to open his servant’s eyes so that he can see the heavenly army God has sent – with chariots of fire. The language of God “mighty in battle” is frequent in the scriptures. It is necessary if God is to fight for the oppressed, the vulnerable, the widow and orphan.
For the LORD will come in fire,
….and his chariots like the whirlwind,
to pay back his anger in fury,
….and his rebuke in flames of fire. Isaiah 66:15
We need to know that God will triumph over evil. The metaphors have value in times when evil seems too strong. But our warrior God is also the one who comes in the child of Nazareth and absorbs the violence of the world in order to save it. This God “mighty in battle” is even more mighty in mercy…and surfs with joy upon the clouds.
God of mercy, God of grace,
be our triumph
and our song.
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Image: Clouds after Sunday worship; dkbonde
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
© David K Bonde, 2020, All rights reserved