Psalm 68 - Strength to His people

Read: Psalm 68 vs 1-35

Psalm 68 is a song of celebration. The person who this Psalm celebrates is God. Throughout the Psalm His name is lifted high as David shines a spotlight on his greatness from various historical angles. 

In vs 1-6 David celebrates God’s character. God is pictured as a great military leader, blowing all enemies before Him (vs 2). Like a great conquering General God comes riding on the clouds (vs 4) and yet in vs 5 this amazing greatness stoops down to reveal as God reveals Himself as ‘a father to the fatherless’ and a ‘defender of widows’ and someone who cares deeply about the welfare of those who are lonely (vs 5).

It can be easy to allow our picture of God to get very disconnected from real life. It can be easy to get carried away with how big and great God is and yet to do so in a way that never ‘connects’ with what is going around us. Psalm 68 does not allow us to do this. Echoes of this Psalm are picked up in James 1:27. What does it mean to live as God’s people? What does it look like to live in response to the greatness and compassion of God revealed in Old Testament scriptures? James writes:

‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress …’

When we live in a way that reflects God’s compassion for others we become more attuned to God’s compassion for us. We realise that this same God ‘daily bears our burdens’ (Psalm 68:19), He is ‘a God who saves’ and from Him comes escape from death (vs 20). It’s a wonderful promise that those who trust in His Son, Jesus, will never perish (John 3:16), we will live even when we die (John 11:25).

Truly God is awesome. We have much to praise Him for (Psalm 68:35).

Prayer: Father you are compassionate and kind. You look after orphans and are merciful to widows. Help me to reflect your character today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.