THE SUMMONS
“The mighty one, God the Lord,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines forth.
Our God comes and does not keep silence,
before him is a devouring fire,
and a mighty tempest all around him.”
Psalm 50:1-3
We have all been “summoned” at one time or another. A summons is an urgent proclamation, even implying an authoritative decree. And who is more of an authority than God the Lord?
God is calling to all of the people of the earth, “from the rising of the sun to its setting.” Are you listening? There is surely a day coming when God will come and judge this earth, and each and every one of its inhabitants, and He will not be silent, nor ignored.
You may ignore God today, if you wish, but there will certainly be a day when each of us will stand before God and give an account to Him of how we have lived our lives.
“He summons the heavens above,
and the earth, that he may judge his people:
‘Gather to me this consecrated people,
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.’
And the heavens proclaim his righteousness,
for he is a God of justice.
‘Listen, my people, and I will speak;
I will testify against you, Israel:
I am God, your God.
I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
I have no need of a bull from your stall
or of goats from your pens,
for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know every bird in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields are mine.
If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
and call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
Psalm 50:4-15
God does not want our sacrifices, as if He actually needs something from us. He is the Most High, the All-Sufficient One. He needs nothing we could ever give to Him. But there is one thing that He does desire, and that is our thanksgiving. He desires our sincere thanks for all that He has done for us, as well as our heartfelt praise and honor for His love and goodness to all. He desires that we be repentant for our sins and humble before the only One who can offer forgiveness to us.
“But to the wicked person, God says:
‘What right have you to recite my laws
or take my covenant on your lips?
You hate my instruction
and cast my words behind you.
When you see a thief, you join with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.
You use your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit.
You sit and testify against your brother
and slander your own mother’s son.
When you did these things and I kept silent,
you thought I was exactlylike you.
But I now arraign you
and set my accusations before you.
Consider this, you who forget God,
or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
and to the blameless I will show my salvation.’ “
Psalm 50:16-23
And lastly, God says to all of those who have rejected Him and who have nothing but contempt for His Word, “Watchout!” All those who “forget God,” will one day face utter annihilation, UNLESS—– he repents. For everyone who will heed His warning, God still offers His full love and forgiveness.
So, no matter who you are, or where you are in this world. If you will listen to God’s Word today, there is still hope, and I pray that all will call out to Him now and receive His blessing of salvation!
