Marking the Territory
One interpretation is that some of these texts were used in Temple worship. If so, these verses might have been a creed. Similar sentiments are often found in hymns. For the faithful it is a rallying call, sounding out what you believe, partly because you believe it and partly in order to believe it. In human terms it is a war cry. In animal terms it is the marking of the territory.
So who is this God and how much do we believe in him? Well, he is a powerful, no-nonsense God, which is great when on your side (vv 1-3a). His comings and goings are sudden and unexpected. You can’t see his heels for dust, and river and sea (traditional symbols of chaos), hills and mountains are all under his control (vv 3b-5). He will stand by you in trouble, but you won’t get away with anything he doesn’t like (vv 6-8). So woe betide those who rebel and every blessing on those who submit (vv 9-11).
But is this the God we believe in? Is this the shrine where we worship? Sometimes, yes; perhaps most of the time. But always? And when we don’t, which bits appeal to us most — and why? Which least — and why? And what are we to say when people raise questions about his actvities, air doubts about his ability to control natural events, or drift away to ‘other gods’ or whisper that ‘this God’ is either not just or has lost his cutting edge?
Two things to remember. One, this understanding of God as powerful, tough and in overall control is a partial picture of God which needs to be balanced with the God of love and compassion, whom we find in Jesus. Two, it is a picture which nevertheless commands our attention, partly because it is there, partly because it focuses on aspects of God we often find attractive, and (perhaps most of all) because when it suits us we are all in danger of worshipping this God more than we like to admit. But. perhaps most important, it is a pertinent reminder that there are certain inevitabilities in life beyond our control, whoever or wherever you are, and that in the last resort everything comes to an end except God.