Read
(A psalm and a song by David for the music leader.)
God Will Win the Battle
1Do something, God!
Scatter your hateful enemies.
Make them turn and run.
2Scatter them like smoke!
When you come near,
make them melt
like wax in a fire.
3But let your people be happy
and celebrate because of you.
4Our God, you are the one
who rides on the clouds,
and we praise you.
Your name is the Lord,
and we celebrate
as we worship you.
5Our God, from your sacred home
you take care of orphans
and protect widows.
6You find families
for those who are lonely.
You set prisoners free
and let them prosper,
but all who rebel will live
in a scorching desert.
7You set your people free,
and you led them
through the desert.
8 God of Israel,
the earth trembled,
and rain poured down.
You alone are the God
who rules from Mount Sinai.
9When your land was thirsty,
you sent showers
to refresh it.
10Your people settled there,
and you were generous
to everyone in need.
11You gave the command, Lord,
and a chorus of women told
what had happened:
12“Kings and their armies
retreated and ran,
and everything they left
is now being divided.
13And for those who stayed back
to guard the sheep,
there are metal doves
with silver-coated wings
and shiny gold feathers.”
14God All-Powerful, you scattered
the kings like snow falling
on Mount Zalmon.
15Our Lord and our God,
Bashan is a mighty mountain
covered with peaks.
16Why is it jealous of Zion,
the mountain you chose
as your home forever?
17When you, Lord God, appeared
to your people at Sinai,
you came with thousands
of mighty chariots.
18 When you climbed
the high mountain,
you took prisoners with you
and were given gifts.
Your enemies didn't want you
to live there,
but they gave you gifts.
19We praise you, Lord God!
You treat us with kindness
day after day,
and you rescue us.
20You always protect us
and save us from death.
21Our Lord and our God,
your terrible enemies
are ready for war,
but you will crush
their skulls.
22You promised to bring them
from Bashan
and from the deepest sea.
23Then we could wash our feet
in their blood,
and our dogs could chew
on their bones.
24We have seen crowds marching
to your place of worship,
our God and King.
25Singers come first,
and then the musicians,
surrounded by young women
playing tambourines.
26They come shouting,
“People of Israel,
praise the Lord God!”
27The small tribe of Benjamin
leads the way,
followed by the leaders
from Judah.
Then come the leaders
from Zebulun and Naphtali.
28Our God, show your strength!
Show us once again.
29Then kings will bring gifts
to your temple
in Jerusalem.
30Punish that animal
that lives in the swamp!
Punish that nation
whose leaders and people
are like wild bulls.
Make them come crawling
with gifts of silver.
Scatter those nations
that enjoy making war.
31Force the Egyptians to bring
gifts of bronze;
make the Ethiopians hurry
to offer presents.
32Now sing praises to God!
Every kingdom on earth,
sing to the Lord!
33Praise the one who rides
across the ancient skies;
listen as he speaks
with a mighty voice.
34Tell about God's power!
He is honored in Israel,
and he rules the skies.
35The God of Israel is fearsome
in his temple,
and he makes us strong.
Let's praise our God!
Reflect
One of the greatest gifts we receive as we pray with the Psalms is the assurance that God is with us. In the pages of the Psalter we encounter the God who comes to his people in strength and power, in mercy and tenderness.
Psalm 68 is a song celebrating God’s triumph. His victories of the past are remembered and prayer for his help now is offered in faith.
Interestingly, as commentators point out, the Psalm opens with a phrase that would have been familiar to the Israelites of the time. It resembles greatly the prayer that Moses offered each day that the Israelites set out on their long trek across the wilderness. “Our LORD, defeat your enemies and make them run!” (Numbers 10:35) David’s song begins, “Do something, God! Scatter your hateful enemies. Make them turn and run.”
The song continues praising God for the extraordinary help he gives to the orphan, the widow, the lonely and for the deliverance he brings to the captives. This special moment in the text echoes the ministry of Jesus today who is anointed with the Holy Spirit to bring freedom to the poor, the prisoners, the blind and everyone who suffers (Luke 4:18).
At times our own journey through life seems like a long walk across unknown, unfamiliar places. Just as the wilderness hid many dangers for the traveler, so does our existence in this broken and fragile world. None of us knows what a day will bring. So, try and take time at the start of the day to remember that God is with you. Revisit passages in the pages of Scripture that show how involved he habitually is with those who trust him. Call on Him to rise in your midst and cause the enemy of your soul to run!
Respond
Loving Father, deliverer and protector of all who trust in you; be with me today. You alone know what lies ahead for me. Help me when difficulty and pressure come. Cause the enemy of my soul to run and grant me peace. In the name of Jesus, your anointed One. Amen.
Jacqueline Dugas
Jacqueline Dugas is Vice President and Director of Ministries at Every Home for Christ International/Canada (EHC), where she has served on the executive leadership team for more than two decades. Her ministry work involves speaking and writing for a trans-denominational and international audience on the broad topic of knowing God and making Jesus known everywhere. Jacqueline has authored 7 Days with Jesus, written as a follow up resource for Finding the Hope, EHC’s evangelism outreach in Canada and abroad. She has co-authored the widely used evangelism booklet, Finding the Hope, and the Finding the Hope Personal Kit, both published in multiple languages. She is co-producer of EHC’s monthly publication, Harvest Partner.