Why the Why? ~ Psalm 97

“The Lord reigns…” Psalm 97:1a ESV

              It is perhaps the most uttered word when attempting to discern and understand the ways of God.  Oh, how many times must this single-word interrogative question pass the lips of humans each day as they attempt to understand why God does what He does.  Why?

              At the root core of the human condition lies a sin nature that desires to go its own way.  Yet how can you truly blaze your own life-trail with such limited knowledge of the terrain that lies before you?  And as humans by the score pridefully trudge into that unknown terrain of life, encountering danger, darkness, and distress, they are not capable of blaming the one person that commanded their feet to trod there.  No, the pride fueled wandering that takes us in own desired directions, takes us to places we never intended to go.  And when we arrive, we must find someone to blame and question for what happened along the journey.  Why me God?

              The anonymous stretch of Psalms from 91 to 100 have a different flavor.  They attempt to reach a different level and with the aid of the Holy Spirit, the unnamed author(s) achieve their goal.  They speak boldly of the foundational characteristics and attributes of God, something I think everyone on this planet neglects to keep at the ready forefront of the human existence.  And yes, that includes Christians, those that call Christ Lord and Savior of their life.  We must, daily, remind ourselves of who God is, and who we are.  And that is where this stretch of Psalms reaches, and grasps, the goodness of God.  God is faithful (Psalm 91:4), God is perfect in all He does (Psalm 92:15), God created everything including all humans (Psalm 100:3), God is in total control of all He created (Psalm 93:1), God maintains His world daily and forever (Psalm 93:1b), God is trustworthy (Psalm 93:5), God is the perfect judge and will return to judge His creation (Psalm 94:1, 98:9), God disciplines those He loves (Psalm 94:12),  God is holy (Psalm 99:3), and yes, God’s thoughts are ever higher than ours are capable of (Psalm 92:5-6).  So, as you read these attributes of God, the question arises.  If you truly believe them deep within your being, then why would you question God’s ways? Why the why?

              Cancer rears its ugly death-dealing head in your life or the life of a family member or friend?  The Lord reigns.  A tragic accident claims the life of one you held ever so dear?  The Lord reigns.  You lost your job and are teetering on the edge of financial ruin?  The Lord reigns. You see, no matter what situation you can inject into the above formula, it will not change the fact that the Lord reigns.  And since this is as sure as the fact that God’s sun will rise every morning until He commands it not to, we are only left to react to this fact of facts...the Lord reigns.  And it is in the reaction to this fact, that a life can truly find the peace that God promises it.  And that peace is found in the depths of an unwavering faith that a soul offers to its Lord and Savior.

              Isaiah 55:8-9 are two verses that constantly stay at the forefront of my memory banks as I walk this uncertain journey of life each day.  For you see, as I do walk this weary way, I am forced to apply my own personal logic to many situations.  And what limited logic it is.  And it is here that I find myself faithfully considering this verse ever so often.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

              As your human heart desires to issue up countless ‘whys’ to the Lord today, questioning His very nature and reason, the process must be combatted and corrected.  For the real fuel behind that ‘why’ are two huge hurdles that create a grand barrier to a closer walk with Jesus Christ.  1) The desire to know as God knows, and 2) a lack of faith in just who God is.  Today, know, rest in, and have faith that the Lord reigns…pure and simple.  He created it all, manages it all perfectly, and has a perfect reason for all He does.  And when you can faithfully rest well in these, you will indeed rest well.

Why does why not matter?  Because the Lord reigns.  Blessings ~ Dan

“The Lord will reign forever” Psalm 146:10a ISV

“God reigns over the nations” Psalm 47:8a ISV

“The Lord reigns” Psalm 93:1a ISV

“The Lord will reign forever and ever” Exodus 15:18 ISV

white-throated magpie (Cyanocorax formosus), Pochutla, Oaxaca, Mexico