“God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him!” Psalm 68:1
Count on it by faith. God will arise. God’s enemies will be overwhelmed and defeated. Loss, pain, and death itself have met their match. God will arise and scatter brokenness. David compares God’s enemies to smoke that is driven away and wax that is melted away.
“But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!” Psalm 68:3
Enemies are scattered, but the righteous are drawn to God. They exult in jubilant joy. They sing praises and lift up songs to the name of the Lord. David calls on God’s people to exult in him. He is father to the fatherless, and he protects widows. The rebellious are exiled to parched lands but prisoners are given prosperity.
“O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.” Psalm 68:7-8
The earth quakes before God. The heavens pour rain, and God sheds abundance on the land. God provides for those in need. Kings of enemies flee at the word of God and women divide the spoil. All of this because the Lord is with us! He is among us, and he ascends on high.
“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.” Psalm 68:19-20
God, our salvation, bears us up. Deliverance is provided through his name. In the face of enemies, including pain and loss, we bless the name of the Lord. God strikes his enemies in their guiltiness. We are delivered from the very death they wallow in. Our foes are no match for the Creator and Deliverer of mankind.
“Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines: ‘Bless God in the great congregation, the Lord, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!’” Psalm 24-26
The redeemed of the Lord sing it out. The redeemed form a procession. It’s a mighty chorus throughout the ages, and the exponential growth testifies to the goodness and kindness of God. People by people, nation by nation are attracted to his life-giving message. The great and growing congregation blesses their God.
“Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.” Psalm 68:28
David beseeches his God to display his power in the face of his enemies. He calls on God to rebuke the beasts and bulls. He asks God to trample those who are greedy and scatter the warmonger.
“O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.” Psalm 68:32-33
David acknowledges the worthy name of God. He calls on the kingdoms of the earth to sing praises to the God of the ancient heavens. In the face of enemies, he booms out his mighty voice.
He proclaims that we should all ascribe blessing to God. He is powerful. He is majestic. He is awesome in his sanctuary. He gives power and strength freely to his people. May his name be blessed above all other names.
“Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!” Psalm 68:34-35
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