The psalmist wrote, Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.

This imagery of rivers giving applause to the Lord, and mountains forming choirs to sing praises, lifts my spirit. I can almost hear clapping as mountain streams in the Rockies cascade against boulders on their rush downhill. I can imagine the chaos of peaks leaning in to hit the right note as they strive for harmony.

We know creation groans in its current state, waiting on the Lord (Romans 8:22), so why wouldn’t all the universe break into spontaneous song upon his long-awaited arrival?

This language of metaphor speaks to us with deep meaning, pointing to the power and glory of the Lord our God. Don’t overlook it, there’s more here than pretty pictures.

Something beyond our senses is at work, profound and mysterious and wonderful. Ecstatic rivers flowing through rhythmic mountains only hint at this reality.

Psalm 98 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Luke Vodell