The statement 'He looks on the earth and it trembles; he touches the mountains and they smoke' invokes the power of divine presence, presented as overwhelming the stability of earth itself. The verb 'looks on' (hibit) suggests that the divine gaze has creative and destructive power; to be looked upon by God is to experience transformation. The verb 'trembles' (yerogez) suggests that even the solid earth quakes at divine gaze. The image of touching mountains and smoke suggests volcanic activity or theophanic manifestation. The verse alludes to the theophanic tradition in which God's appearance is accompanied by geological upheaval. Yet in context, this verse does not suggest destruction but awesome power; the mountain smoke indicates divine presence, not annihilation. The contrast with verses 31 where God 'rejoices' in works creates a tension: God is both delighted in creation and capable of making the earth tremble. This suggests that power and delight, awe and joy, are not opposed in God's relation to creation. The speaker acknowledges the awesome, potentially destructive dimension of divine power even while celebrating God's creative and sustaining work.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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