Psalm 68:1-6, 15-16, 19-20, 26, 35 NIV
May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;
may his foes flee before him.
May you blow them away like smoke—
as wax melts before the fire,
may the wicked perish before God.
But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God;
may they be happy and joyful.
Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—
his name is the Lord.
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
God sets the lonely in families,
he leads out the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
Mount Bashan, majestic mountain,
Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,
why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain,
at the mountain where God chooses to reign,
where the Lord himself will dwell forever?
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
Our God is a God who saves;
from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.
Praise God in the great congregation;
praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel.
You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary;
the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Praise be to God!
Years ago I attended a Promise Keepers convention at the former RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. There were over 62,000 men gathered there to worship God and hear the word of God proclaimed. It was awe inspiring. The excitement in the place rivaled that of any major sporting event. We were electrified with joy. God truly filled that place with His awesome presence.
That experience is about as close as I can get to the thrill Israel experienced when they gathered for worship at the Temple in Jerusalem. Psalm 68 celebrates the festal gathering of God's people. The psalm begins with a distinction between the enemies of God and the people of God. The prayer bids God to scatter his enemies, but for his people to rejoice and be glad in his presence.
The psalm recounts some of God's history with Israel, mainly their crossing of the desert and taking possession of the promised land. God is referred to as the one of Sinai. God has moved from the heights of Sinai to Jerusalem, to Mount Zion, to dwell in the temple that bears his name.
The psalmist asks another mighty peak, Mount Bashan, why it is jealous that God chose Zion. This is a poetic way to ask Syria and Lebanon, and all the gentile world, why they are envious of God's special relationship with Israel.
The psalmist glories in the throngs of the righteous processing to the temple. They come from all over. Even the rebellious join in bringing offerings to the God of Israel.
I've always been moved by the phrase "a father to the fatherless." Verse 5 & 6 speaks of how God took the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and gave them a home in the promised land of Canaan. The fatherless, the widows, and the lonely find refuge and solace. They are cared for in the land among God's people.
While these words may be euphemisms to describe how Israel felt displaced and disavowed while living ad slaves in Egypt, God's law certainly provides for orphans. God's people have always taken care of the orphan and the widow, the poor and the homeless.
I suppose the reason I am so moved by the phrase is that I too have felt alone and abandoned. I too have felt as if I had no family. What a blessing to know that the shimmering pinions of my Father in heaven surround me with love and his perfect power. What an awesome thing to be a part of the billions who worship the living God. What a privilege to stand among them! What an honor and a humbling thing it is to stand and speak on God's behalf.
Should you ever feel lonely and displaced, know that there is a God who cares for you. He will give you a home among his people. And you too shall be filled with joy in the gathering.
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