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
Whenever I ask the question, “Where have you experienced God?”, the responses invariably contain descriptions of nature. This resonates with my own experiences of the outdoors and deep love for creation. The psalmist describes God’s presence in the clouds, wilderness, rain, and sky. God is also present in the destructive elements of nature like earthquakes and fire. Where I live in Southern Minnesota, at the junction of the Eastern Broadleaf Forest and Prairie Parkland, we get both: terrible destruction in tornadoes, floods, and blizzards, and beautiful reminders of God’s presence in nature in lakes, woods, and gently rolling hills.
In “God creates the fertile earth,” a line engraving by E. van den Wellcome, we see a depiction of God, full of energy and movement in the middle of a wild and untamed creation. Beloved, looking at this picture, can you feel the peace and the chaos found in creation and in God’s presence.
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:God_creates_the_fertile_earth._Line_engraving_by_E._van_den_Wellcome_V0034179.jpg)
Prayer
Abba/Imma, you are the creator of all. Help us to sense and savor, to fear and respect your presence in the natural world. Amen.
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