Morning Prayer: "a great king above all gods"

 

From Morning Prayer: “For the Lord is a great God, a great king above all gods.” (Psalm 95:3)


Other gods??!

🕊️ 1. What Psalm 95 actually says

This is typical biblical language. It appears all over the Psalms and the prophets. the “other gods” in Psalm 95 are not real gods. They are the so‑called gods of the nations—idols, spiritual powers, or rival claims to divinity—named only to declare that Israel’s God is sovereign over all of them.

🕊️ 2. Why the Bible talks this way: the ancient world was full of gods

Israel lived in a world where every nation had its own pantheon:

  • Egypt had Ra, Isis, Osiris

  • Canaan had Baal, Asherah, Molech

  • Mesopotamia had Marduk, Ishtar, Enlil

When the Psalms say “gods,” they are referring to these—the deities the surrounding cultures worshipped.

The biblical writers speak into that world using its vocabulary, but they do something bold: they dethrone every one of those gods.

🕊️ 3. Three layers of meaning in the Old Testament

The Old Testament uses “gods” in three overlapping senses:

1. Idols — physical statues worshipped as gods

The prophets mock them: “They have mouths but do not speak… those who make them become like them” (Psalm 115).

2. False gods — the imagined deities of other nations

These are “gods” only in the sense that people call them gods.

3. Spiritual beings — angels or powers that some nations mistook for gods

This is the most subtle layer. In some passages (e.g., Psalm 82), the word “gods” (elohim) refers to spiritual beings—not divine, not equal to God, but part of the heavenly court - angels or cosmic powers.

The Bible is comfortable using the same word elohim for:

  • God

  • angels

  • departed spirits

  • false gods

  • idols

Because elohim means “one who dwells in the spiritual realm,” not “a divine being equal to God.”

🕊️ 4. So, what does Psalm 95 mean?

It means:

Whatever anyone else calls “god”—idol, spirit, power, ruler, or fantasy— the Lord is above all of them.

It’s a statement of absolute sovereignty in a world full of competing claims.

It’s not saying:

  • that other gods actually exist as divine beings

  • that there are multiple creators

  • or that God is one among many

It’s saying: “Call them gods if you want. Our God rules over everything anyone else worships.”

🕊️ 5. How this fits with monotheism

Israel’s faith develops in clarity over time:

  • Early texts emphasize that Israel must worship only the Lord (monolatry).

  • Later texts emphasize that the Lord is the only God who exists (monotheism).

But even in the earliest layers, the message is the same: There is one God. Everything else is either created, imagined, or subordinate.

🕊️ 6. What this means for prayer today

When Morning Prayer uses Psalm 95, it’s reminding you:

  • God is not one option among many

  • God is not a tribal deity

  • God is not limited to Israel, the Church, or any people

  • God is sovereign over every power—spiritual, political, cultural, or personal—that claims your allegiance

It’s a declaration of freedom: Nothing else gets to be god in your life. Only the Lord.


Note about Morning Prayer: Each morning prayer post reflects on one phrase from the Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. which can be found in the iBreviary (a downloadable app), Universalis (website) or Divine Office (publication and website).

post production may be assisted by AI in image generation and content (research and wording)


Read more Morning Prayer posts.

Morning Prayer posts inspired by Being Catholic in Troubled Times (Dennis Ortman)


Book Description:

These are times that try our souls. This book is addressed to all, not just Catholics, who search for deeper meaning in tough times. Our age is marked by division and alienation. We long for some message that will bring peace to our world and our hearts.

This book suggests that the Catholic faith can provide strength in these troubled times. The word "catholic" means "all-embracing, universal." Nothing is excluded in the catholic mind. The truth that sets us free can be found everywhere, especially in unexpected places. It is often hidden in plain sight. In our darkest moments, we find new light and life. When we are most despairing, a ray of hope shines through.



Dr. Dennis Ortman, former priest and current psychologist, is the author of Anger Anonymous, Anxiety Anonymous, Depression Anonymous, Being Catholic in Troubled Times, and Life, Liberty, and COVID-19.


For more posts by and about Dennis and his award-winning books, click HERE.



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