“God is honored in Judah; his name is great in Israel. Jerusalem is where he lives; Mount Zion is his home. There he has broken the fiery arrows of the enemy, the shields and swords and weapons of war. Interlude You are glorious and more majestic than the everlasting mountains. Our boldest enemies have been plundered. They lie before us in the sleep of death. No warrior could lift a hand against us. At the blast of your breath, O God of Jacob, their horses and chariots lay still. No wonder you are greatly feared! Who can stand before you when your anger explodes? From heaven you sentenced your enemies; the earth trembled and stood silent before you. You stand up to judge those who do evil, O God, and to rescue the oppressed of the earth. Interlude Human defiance only enhances your glory, for you use it as a weapon. Make vows to the Lord your God, and keep them. Let everyone bring tribute to the Awesome One. For he breaks the pride of princes, and the kings of the earth fear him.”
Psalms 76:1-12 NLT
The glory of the Lord is only enhanced by the defiance of human defiance. Yet we are told repeatedly that God does not wish us to be defiant. In fact we are told that rebellion is that which God hates. If rebellion is “good” for God, why does he hate it so much? The apostle Paul explores this when talking about the relationship between grace and sin. He notes that where sin is present, grace abounds. Some have thought this to be an exploit to receive God’s grace. The scripture warns that the outcome of this is death. Though God is not affected by human defiance, or sin in terms of his ontology, these things do produce an emotional effect he does not prefer. This preference is because of his love for us. These disordered behaviors destroy us as they align us with those destined for destruction. Those who believe that their defiance can somehow withstand the power of God to accomplish his will or to rule his creation are sorely and tacitly mistaken. Tho defiance elicits an emotional response from God, it is in no way a hindrance to him, his love, his being or his plans.
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