The psalmist invites us to join the choir for the Lord’s victory celebration. There will be instrumental accompaniment, strings, and brass. Even Creation’s children will be there: the seas roaring, the floods clapping their hands, and the hills alive with the sound of music. What a victory party it’s going to be!
But wait. It’s a party with a kicker. The guest of honor will judge the earth. Come to the victory party and then be told you’re a loser? When the church’s new-member dinner is over, you’re told about self-sacrifice and handed a pledge card. Or does the psalmist trust that the victory celebration results precisely because the guest of honor will “judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity”?
It all depends on your perspective. If you’ve spent your life winning by taking advantage of the weak, then the weak will likely enjoy this party more than you will. If your victories have come through intimidation, manipulation, and deceit, this won’t be like the champagne and caviar parties you’re used to. If you’re used to attending black-tie galas with the rich and famous, you may feel uncomfortable with these come-as-you-are attendees in their thrift-store attire. If you’re complaining about how tired you are of going to dinner parties, be prepared to overhear conversations about this being the first party some have ever attended. And, if you’re Creation and you’ve been ravaged, this day of victory has been delayed way too long. In fact, you’ve doubted that it would ever come.
Then again, maybe in the judgment of the guest of honor you and others will discover grace. You’ll find that by losing, you and the whole world win. Now that’s a victory worth celebrating.