Read
(A song and a psalm by Asaph for the music leader. Use stringed instruments.)
God Always Wins
1You, our God,
are famous in Judah
and honored in Israel.
2Your home is on Mount Zion,
the city of peace.
3There you destroyed
fiery arrows, shields, swords,
and all the other weapons.
4You are more glorious than
the eternal mountains.
5Brave warriors were robbed
of what they had taken,
and now they lie dead,
unable to lift an arm.
6God of Jacob, when you roar,
enemy chariots and horses
drop dead in their tracks.
7Our God, you are fearsome,
and no one can oppose you
when you are angry.
8From heaven you announced
your decisions as judge!
And all who live on this earth
were terrified and silent
9when you took over as judge,
ready to rescue
everyone in need.
10Even the most angry people
will praise you
when you are furious.
11Everyone, make your promises
to the Lord your God
and do what you promise.
The Lord is fearsome,
and all his servants
should bring him gifts.
12God destroys the courage
of rulers and kings
and makes cowards of them.
Reflect
How are we to reconcile the picture of a God who appears angry and war-mongering in Psalm 76 with a God of love? The truth is that when a loved one is threatened the only good and right response is to fight to protect that person.
Against all odds Israel survived as a nation amongst hostile nations, and they knew they could not explain this without attributing their miraculous success in battle to the Lord. They were in great need and they saw the Lord act on their behalf, confirming his love for them.
There is a veiled cosmic battle raging around us. We see its effects and often feel overwhelmed by disasters, social breakdown and conflict. We require someone greater than ourselves to care deeply for this world and be willing to intervene.
God saw the desperate straits we were in and took action. He sent a warrior prince, his own Son, to battle death and darkness and we can rejoice in his victory.
Revelation 19 describes the victorious Christ as a rider on a white horse leading the armies of heaven. He judges with justice and overthrows the Enemy. But we are no longer enemies of God because of the work he completed on the cross. He took the wrath of God upon himself to save us when we were powerless and in grave danger.
Our God has proven that he will fight for our souls because he loves us. Christ is our champion, king and friend.
Respond
Great God, you know how the Enemy seeks to destroy us. Thank you for our defender, Jesus Christ, who battled death on our behalf and lives that we might have life to the full. May we know this truth in our hearts and live to honour him. Amen.
Miriam Wickett
Miriam Wickett works as an occupational therapist in the Greater Vancouver area but has thoroughly enjoyed being the author of daily online prayer compilations on her Blue Stone City site, and collaborating with Scripture Union Canada as a result. She shares a vision for the city with her community at Tenth Church, serving as the refugee support ministry co-ordinator, and spends summers as a volunteer camp director on beautiful Thetis Island, B.C.