God's Power

We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah; then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar. Let us go to the sanctuary of the Lord; let us worship at the footstool of his throne. Arise, O Lord, and enter your resting place, along with the Ark, the symbol of your power. May your priests be clothed in godliness; may your loyal servants sing for joy. For the sake of your servant David, do not reject the king you have anointed. Psalm 132: 6-10 NLT

What, to you, is the symbol of God’s power? 

A storm? The cross? The changing seasons? A newborn? 

I am not sure that I have just one, so I would have to say: all of the above!

As Christians, I don’t suppose we have one central symbol of God’s power, just as we have no central place that God “rests.” Although we tend to see God more in our sanctuaries, we also understand that God is throughout the universe. God is not limited to one place. 

At the same time, we probably all associate an event, an object or a place with God. Perhaps we had an experience of God’s presence or power in a particular place or while holding a common object. Now we can remember God and what God has done each time we hold that object or spend time in that place. That event may have symbolized God’s power to us personally, but we don’t universalize that symbol. 

For the psalmist, God’s power is symbolized by the Ark. And the Ark is in a place: God’s sanctuary. And God can only be found in that sanctuary.

God, we are so glad that we have not limited you to a place or one symbol. We give thanks for your continuing power and presence in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright Amelia G. Sims 2012