I\u2019ll close the post with a simple prayer, trying to draw the themes together.<\/p>\n
![\"psalm](\"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/a-psalm-a-day-63-1024x1024.png\")
<\/p>\n
On the 6th of November 2023, here’s Psalm 68:<\/p>\n
1\u00a0<\/sup>May God arise,\u00a0may his enemies be scattered;<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>When you, God, went out\u00a0before your people,<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>The Lord announces the word,<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>Mount Bashan,\u00a0majestic mountain,<\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,<\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>Your procession, God, has come into view,<\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>Summon your power,\u00a0God;<\/span> 32\u00a0<\/sup>Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,<\/span> Praise be to God!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n What is this Psalm about?<\/strong><\/p>\n At 35 verses this is one of the longer Psalms, and it is one that has split the commentators. Some point to Ephesians 4:8-11 for a messianic fulfilment, others see it as merely typological in terms of later understanding. One thing we can be sure of – this Psalm is about, to and for God, and it draws from a range of sources and ideas to conclude ‘Praise be to God!’ (v. 35).<\/p>\n What does this Psalm teach about God?<\/strong><\/p>\n Over 35 verses, Psalm 68 teaches clearly and assumes a great deal of truth about God. There are beautifully deep and multifaceted truths, like that in verses 5 and six, that God is a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows (in a culture where a widow had lost her defence), and a God who sets people in families. God goes before God’s people (v. 7), provides for the poor (v. 10), is the Almighty who scatters kings (v. 14), and is a Saviour (v. 19) – the God who saves (v. 20). One thing that is repeated (v. 8 and 34\/35) is that God is the God of Israel – a specific God to a specific people – and in this is rooted praise and worship.<\/p>\n How does this Psalm connect to God\u2019s people today?<\/strong><\/p>\n Psalm 68 offers an overwhelming panorama of God’s characteristics and actions – and some of the intimate links between those two things. The disagreement in the commentators over the particular or specific historical context of the Psalm can also serve as a challenge and encouragement – God’s word speaks to us, because of who God is, wherever and however we might find ourselves. The God of Psalm 68 is concerned with the arrangements of world governance, and with the orphans and the poor – no one is too small for God to know and notice, and from his sanctuary flows safety. What a reminder and challenge for us today.<\/p>\n A prayer drawn from Psalm 68<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>may his foes flee\u00a0before him.<\/span><\/span>
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>May you blow them away like smoke\u2014<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>as wax melts\u00a0before the fire,<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>may the wicked perish\u00a0before God.<\/span><\/span>
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>But may the righteous be glad<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and rejoice\u00a0before God;<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>may they be happy and joyful.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>extol him who rides on the clouds;<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>rejoice before him\u2014his name is the\u00a0Lord<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>
\n5\u00a0<\/sup>A father to the fatherless,\u00a0a defender of widows,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>is God in his holy dwelling.<\/span><\/span>
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>God sets the lonely\u00a0in families,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>he leads out the prisoners\u00a0with singing;<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>when you marched through the wilderness,<\/span><\/span>
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>the earth shook,\u00a0the heavens poured down rain,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>before God, the One of Sinai,<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>before God, the God of Israel.<\/span><\/span>
\n9\u00a0<\/sup>You gave abundant showers,\u00a0O God;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you refreshed your weary inheritance.<\/span><\/span>
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>Your people settled in it,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and from your bounty,\u00a0God, you provided\u00a0for the poor.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:<\/span><\/span>
\n12\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cKings and armies flee\u00a0in haste;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the women at home divide the plunder.<\/span><\/span>
\n13\u00a0<\/sup>Even while you sleep among the sheep pens,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>its feathers with shining gold.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n14\u00a0<\/sup>When the Almighty scattered\u00a0the kings in the land,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,<\/span><\/span>
\n16\u00a0<\/sup>why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>at the mountain where God chooses\u00a0to reign,<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>where the\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u00a0himself will dwell forever?<\/span><\/span>
\n17\u00a0<\/sup>The chariots\u00a0of God are tens of thousands<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and thousands of thousands;<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.<\/span><\/span>
\n18\u00a0<\/sup>When you ascended\u00a0on high,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you took many captives;<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you received gifts from people,<\/span><\/span>
\neven from the rebellious\u2014<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>that you,\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u00a0God, might dwell there.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>who daily bears our burdens.<\/span><\/span>
\n20\u00a0<\/sup>Our God is a God who saves;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>from the Sovereign\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u00a0comes escape from death.<\/span><\/span>
\n21\u00a0<\/sup>Surely God will crush the heads\u00a0of his enemies,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.<\/span><\/span>
\n22\u00a0<\/sup>The Lord says, \u201cI will bring them from Bashan;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>I will bring them from the depths of the sea,<\/span><\/span>
\n23\u00a0<\/sup>that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>while the tongues of your dogs\u00a0have their share.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.<\/span><\/span>
\n25\u00a0<\/sup>In front are the singers,\u00a0after them the musicians;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>with them are the young women playing the timbrels.<\/span><\/span>
\n26\u00a0<\/sup>Praise God in the great congregation;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>praise the\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u00a0in the assembly of Israel.<\/span><\/span>
\n27\u00a0<\/sup>There is the little tribe\u00a0of Benjamin,\u00a0leading them,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>there the great throng of Judah\u2019s princes,<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>show us your strength,\u00a0our God, as you have done\u00a0before.<\/span><\/span>
\n29\u00a0<\/sup>Because of your temple at Jerusalem<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>kings will bring you gifts.<\/span><\/span>
\n30\u00a0<\/sup>Rebuke the beast\u00a0among the reeds,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the herd of bulls\u00a0among the calves of the nations.<\/span><\/span>
\nHumbled, may the beast bring bars of silver.<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Scatter the nations\u00a0who delight in war.<\/span><\/span>
\n31\u00a0<\/sup>Envoys will come from Egypt;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Cush will submit herself to God.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>sing praise\u00a0to the Lord,<\/span><\/span>
\n33\u00a0<\/sup>to him who rides\u00a0across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>who thunders\u00a0with mighty voice.<\/span><\/span>
\n34\u00a0<\/sup>Proclaim the power\u00a0of God,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>whose majesty\u00a0is over Israel,<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>whose power is in the heavens.<\/span><\/span>
\n35\u00a0<\/sup>You, God, are awesome\u00a0in your sanctuary;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the God of Israel gives power and strength\u00a0to his people.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n