We don’t often think of poetry as bossy. Poetry is not the expected form of speech to issue a direct command. If we receive a direct order in the guise of flowery words, would we ever obey? In an emergency, nobody will move more quickly because, instead of yelling, “Fire!,” the concerned citizen stood on a soapbox and said “Give me a tempest if ’twill drive / Me to the place where I would be.” Very many people would burn in the fire due to either completely ignoring the babbling poet or because they are lost in pondering what is meant by the words of seventeenth century poet, Charles Webbe (the poem is, “Against Indifference”).
In every language, verbs have moods. That is to say, when a verb is used to suggest the possibility of something, like she might grab her child and leave the building, or she might not, an English teacher will tell us that the verb is in the subjunctive mood. When a verb is a part of a question, like when we wonder if she will grab her child and leave, or if she won’t, the English teacher says that the verb is in the interrogative mood. When the event actually happens and the mother does indeed grab her child and leave the building, the mood is declarative. Finally, when a verb is meant to be understood as a strong command as in immediately grab your child and leave the building right now, the English teacher tells us to use the imperative mood.
In the Hebrew language, a verb in the imperative mood stands out like a sore thumb. They aren’t hard to spot. At the end of Psalm 97 there are three verbs in the imperative mood that function like forceful applications. These are not mere suggestions (that would be the subjunctive mood), they are commands. We’ll look at them later.
After the poet lifts us into the realm of God, the place from which He reigns surrounded by “clouds and thick darkness” (vv. 1, 2), we are brought back down to earth where His rule is felt. The entire world feels it. Lightning lights up the world (v. 4). The heat of the Lord melts the mountains (v. 5). The earth trembles (v. 4). And everyone who worships images are “put to shame” (v. 7). When the rule of God touches the world of human life, nothing remains the same, nobody misses the point, and nobody remains indifferent.
In this cataclysmic situation in which God visits us, what is a worshipper of God to do? The poet is very clear, using three imperatives, what those “who love the Lord” are to do. First, they are to “hate evil” (v. 10). Second, they are to “rejoice in the Lord” (v. 12). And third, they are to “give thanks to His holy name” (v. 12). We might say, devote yourself to holiness, rejoice in the Lord, and give thanks to the Lord … always. Who says poetry shouldn’t be used for commands?
Each of these three commands, holiness, rejoicing, and thanksgiving, can be found in Phillippians 4:4-9. Each also appears in 1 Thessalonians 5:14-17 below. And just like the poet, Paul uses verbs in the imperative mood so that you get the point, and know what to do.
“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
