We Are Not Alone!

qaSpa' the Qunpu', jIH DichDaq bom praises Daq SoH.
Before the gods, I will sing praises to you. Psalm 138:1b

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We are not alone. That is the promise of Scripture, as well as the conclusion of at least some of the scientists who conduct the search for life beyond our planet. Granted these conclusions are from vastly different realms, but together they provide a comfort, as well as a challenge to believers.

qaSpa' the Qunpu', jIH DichDaq bom praises Daq SoH.
Before the gods, I will sing praises to you. Psalm 138:1b

This psalm protrays us as NOT ALONE, as it considers our praise "qaSpa' the Qunpu'" "before the gods." The word here for gods, is the Hebrew elohim - a plural form that USUALLY is translated as "God" - that is, the almighty. But in some passages (we saw this recently in Psalm 8) context leads it to be translated as "gods". The Life Application Bible notes:

"Before the gods" may mean in the presence of subordinate heavenly beings (angels), or, more likely, it may be a statement ridiculing the kings or gods of the pagan nations. God is supreme in the whole earth.

I should note that The Klingon word used here is Qunpu' - the plural for Qun, the Klingon word for a god or deity. This is not the word we usually use (joH'a') to indicate the one Almighty - that's partly a historical accident, since joH'a' had come into wide usage before there was a known term, Qun, in Klingon for deities. As I've used it, Qun, is a generic, small "g" god - joH'a' is the one supreme god - the great Lord over all.

qaSpa' the Qunpu', jIH DichDaq bom praises Daq SoH.
Before the gods, I will sing praises to you. Psalm 138:1b

This means we need to realize that, even we pray and praise God by ourselves - we are NOT alone. Our relationship to God is never a solitary one. As we live out our life of faith we are witnesses before the world, before angels and humans, and perhaps even before extraterrestrials - we are never truly alone.

In addition, we have promises of Divine presence as well, and there, the realization we are not alone can be a comfort. We do well to reflect on God's promises of his abiding presence. From God's words in Genesis to Jacob yIlegh, jIH 'oH tlhej SoH / "Behold, I am with you to Christ's in Revelation yIlegh" jIH Qam Daq the lojmIt je knock / Behold, I stand at the door and knock." This is a great comfort, and such words are good resouces to commit to memory - I've found such words are a powerful reminder, a joy to reflect on in dark moments.

But what OF the scientists who claim 'we are not alone?' There is a wide range of opinion on whether we will find aliens as we explore the heavens. Estimating the probabilities and recognizing the vast distances make it clear that ascertaining whether or where there are aliens is a difficult task.

There is, in fact, a formula, called the Drake Equation, after its author, Frank Drake. Plugging in a number of variables and estimates allows us to calculculate the number of alien civilizations that might exist. It is an interesting way to consider the problem - I've even written a program to run the calculations. So far, most of the input is highly speculative, leading to a wide spectrum of opinion - from NO other races, to a sky riddled with star empires.

This may not be a comfort - some may imagine the notion - if ever proved - would diminish our place in creation. I don't agree - any more than finding one more unknown people group reduces the significance of humanity.

As much as I'd be delighted with our finally exchanging greetings with others in the cosmos - it wouldn't change what we already know - we AREN'T alone. Scripture already makes clear that we stand NOW before God, before angels and all of creation. It is in such company that we are called to worship, to praise, to delight and give thanks for all God has done.

qaSpa' the Qunpu', jIH DichDaq bom praises Daq SoH.
Before the gods, I will sing praises to you. Psalm 138:1b