Listen

Strong king who loves justice, you are the one who established what is fair. You worked justice and righteousness in Jacob. Magnify the Lord, our God! Bow low at his footstool! He is holy! Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel too among those who called on his name. They cried out to the Lord, and he himself answered them— he spoke to them from a pillar of cloud. They kept the laws and the rules God gave to them. Lord our God, you answered them. To them you were a God who forgives but also the one who avenged their wrong deeds. Magnify the Lord our God! Bow low at his holy mountain because the Lord our God is holy!

Psalm 99:4-9

Think

Do you know the difference between a “buddy” and a “friend”? A buddy is someone you get in trouble with. A friend is someone who holds you accountable. The psalmist reminds us that God is holy and a friend.

While Moses, Aaron, and Samuel are the ones listed in the psalm, the list of those who called on God as friend is long and lengthy – David, Mary, You, Me. We all recognize the Lord is holy and worthy of worship, but we also need to remember as Moses, Aaron, and Samuel did, that God is a friend (not a buddy) who loves us, forgives us, and holds us accountable.

This “Strong King,” to whom we bow before the holy mountain, expects a lot from us, but also welcomes us to call upon our God as a friend — a friend who is there for us, who holds us accountable for our choices, but also loves and forgives us for those not-so-good choices. We all need a friend like this, and thankfully we have one in God.

Kris “Bubba” Brammer

Pray

Holy One, your call is full of expectations, but within those expectations are your love, mercy, and guidance. Thank you for walking with me as my friend. Continue to lead me up your holy mountain, that I might fully understand the glory that is your presence. Amen.

Go

Go climb your mountain and see that God is holy!