Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.
Verse 2As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.
Verse 3But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy.
Verse 4Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds-his name is the Lord- be exultant before him.
Verse 5Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
Verse 6God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.
Verse 7O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
Verse 8the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Verse 9Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished;
Verse 10your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
Verse 32Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, Selah
Verse 33O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
Verse 34Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel; and whose power is in the skies.
Verse 35Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
Devotion
I am a walking pray-er. As I walk, I'm reminded of something Philip Yancey stresses in his book "Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?" "God is the starting point of prayer." To that end, I have found it helpful to use Luther's meanings to the three articles of the Apostle's Creed as the words of my prayer.
Next, my prayers always focus on my family, praying for what I call "God's Psalm 91 Protection" for them, not the least for my two-year-old grandson (my only grandchild) who came into my life when I was 78 years old. Especially when I walk in the mall, I lift up prayers for people I pass—youth, couples, senior citizens, and those little ones I have come to treasure since the birth of my grandson.
The psalms are the Prayer Book of the Bible. Psalm 68 is a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for God our protector, a psalm that truly helps one to "begin with God."
Prayer
Protecting God, thank you for being a "God who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." Amen.