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Eugene Peterson in Praying with the Psalms writes:
When sinners worship gods of their making, they drag the gods down to their level. When sinners worship a God of holiness, they are lifted to his level. The God of psalm 99 is a God who is in charge. He responds to cries for help with justice, compassion, forgiveness and punishment that hold us accountable for our actions.
The proper response to God is reverence, a bowing of heart and life, and adjustment of our lives….alignment to his reign. It is we who march to God’s rhythms. God sets the pace for us…we don’t set the rhythm or pace for God. It is we who are shaped and molded to fit God’s patterns and not God who is trimmed down to fit our patterns.
Really? Did I begin this day seeking to fit into God’s ways or did I assume God would find a way to fit into my patterns of agenda and life today?Psalm 99 reminds me of my need for repentance!
O God, I do not hear your word to me today because I have gotten started out on the wrong path. I have looked for how you fit my routines today and not how I am to fit yours. One place I start is in prayer and word. As I go through this day’s agendas, remind me of your larger calling and framework of truth and righteousness at work around me. Give me courage to enter your streams of mercy and faithfulness. Amen.
