For the "Gracevine" newsletter for Grace Lutheran Church in Thornville, Ohio, August 2022.
Judgment
Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. – 1 Chronicles 16:33 ESV (Monthly Watchword for August)
When I was younger, I used to laugh at the idea that lesser life forms could praise God. I would hear people say that chirping crickets and birds were really lifting their voices to the Creator of the universe, and I would proceed to roll my eyes. The idea seemed preposterous.
Then I began to read the Bible, and I discovered that the Bible talks often about all parts of creation being in relationship with God. Indeed, there are many places in the Bible that do speak of animal and plant life, not to mention other parts of creation, even inanimate objects, praising God. Such things do not possess the level of consciousness that humans do, but their presence in creation and their “voices” are the result and a reminder of God’s creative activity.
One such verse is this month’s Watchword, from 1 Chronicles 16:33. 1 Chronicles is one of those Old Testament books most often neglected. 1 and 2 Chronicles tell the story recounted in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings, but from a different point of view.
Of all parts of 1 Chronicles, chapter 16 is probably the most famous. It recounts King David bringing the Ark of the Covenant, containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments, into the city of Jerusalem. At that time, the Temple had not yet been constructed, so the Ark was placed in a tent. And David breaks forth into song, of which 16:33 is a part.
This verse is confusing to us, and not just because it speaks of trees singing for joy. We understand that the point of David’s song is that all creation is called to give thanks to God because of His faithfulness to His promises. What is really confusing is the reason behind the joy of the trees: [F]or [God] comes to judge the earth.
How can anyone be joyful about judgment? The answer to that question requires us to rethink the whole issue of judgment.
We typically hear of “judgment” in a negative sense. We are warned against “being judgmental,” and the thought of judgment from God can be terrifying. Judgment conjures images of destruction, as in “sulfur and fire” from God on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness (Genesis 18).
But judgment is a much bigger concept. The Hebrew word shaphat, translated as “judgment,” is not only about retribution. It is about setting things right, making decisions, and settling disputes.
We might not always like judgment, especially when judgment gets in the way of what we want at the moment. But how blessed we are to live in a world with judgment, with order! Judgment is necessary for us to live in true freedom and peace.
How much more are we blessed to have a God who cares about judgment, who seeks to make things right in creation, and who includes us in that! We believe both that God is a God of judgment and that God has a friendly heart toward us. By faith, we hold on to God’s good news that in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God has given His judgment. It is the judgment that though we are sinners, Christ is a great Savior. For we who trust in God’s grace, we need not fear judgment from God. We can receive it with joy.
There are many things for which we can and should be joyful. We are blessed to have daily bread from God in many forms. We are blessed by our true friends and neighbors in this community and elsewhere. We are blessed by the gift of this congregation and our ability to be a part of it. As we are in these waning days of summer and the trees begin to change their color, we rejoice with the trees that God has come and is coming to judge the earth!
Pr. Tom Jacobson
Judgment
Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. – 1 Chronicles 16:33 ESV (Monthly Watchword for August)
When I was younger, I used to laugh at the idea that lesser life forms could praise God. I would hear people say that chirping crickets and birds were really lifting their voices to the Creator of the universe, and I would proceed to roll my eyes. The idea seemed preposterous.
Then I began to read the Bible, and I discovered that the Bible talks often about all parts of creation being in relationship with God. Indeed, there are many places in the Bible that do speak of animal and plant life, not to mention other parts of creation, even inanimate objects, praising God. Such things do not possess the level of consciousness that humans do, but their presence in creation and their “voices” are the result and a reminder of God’s creative activity.
One such verse is this month’s Watchword, from 1 Chronicles 16:33. 1 Chronicles is one of those Old Testament books most often neglected. 1 and 2 Chronicles tell the story recounted in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings, but from a different point of view.
Of all parts of 1 Chronicles, chapter 16 is probably the most famous. It recounts King David bringing the Ark of the Covenant, containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments, into the city of Jerusalem. At that time, the Temple had not yet been constructed, so the Ark was placed in a tent. And David breaks forth into song, of which 16:33 is a part.
This verse is confusing to us, and not just because it speaks of trees singing for joy. We understand that the point of David’s song is that all creation is called to give thanks to God because of His faithfulness to His promises. What is really confusing is the reason behind the joy of the trees: [F]or [God] comes to judge the earth.
How can anyone be joyful about judgment? The answer to that question requires us to rethink the whole issue of judgment.
We typically hear of “judgment” in a negative sense. We are warned against “being judgmental,” and the thought of judgment from God can be terrifying. Judgment conjures images of destruction, as in “sulfur and fire” from God on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness (Genesis 18).
But judgment is a much bigger concept. The Hebrew word shaphat, translated as “judgment,” is not only about retribution. It is about setting things right, making decisions, and settling disputes.
We might not always like judgment, especially when judgment gets in the way of what we want at the moment. But how blessed we are to live in a world with judgment, with order! Judgment is necessary for us to live in true freedom and peace.
How much more are we blessed to have a God who cares about judgment, who seeks to make things right in creation, and who includes us in that! We believe both that God is a God of judgment and that God has a friendly heart toward us. By faith, we hold on to God’s good news that in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God has given His judgment. It is the judgment that though we are sinners, Christ is a great Savior. For we who trust in God’s grace, we need not fear judgment from God. We can receive it with joy.
There are many things for which we can and should be joyful. We are blessed to have daily bread from God in many forms. We are blessed by our true friends and neighbors in this community and elsewhere. We are blessed by the gift of this congregation and our ability to be a part of it. As we are in these waning days of summer and the trees begin to change their color, we rejoice with the trees that God has come and is coming to judge the earth!
Pr. Tom Jacobson