Daily Reflection

Long experience within a few United Church congregations suggests that judgment tends to be a far from beloved word in most of our circles. Nevertheless! Here in Psalm 98, God’s pending judgment is celebrated—I believe rightly celebrated—for its rich promise not only of just-judgment, but for its assurance that it will promote genuine equity: bringing blessing to God’s people Israel but bringing no less rich a blessing to all peoples. Let the floods clap their hands, indeed! Let even the hills sing together for joy at the coming of the just-judge, for joy at the coming of the God of righteousness!