Psalm | Psalm 68

About this Episode

Opening Song:
You Are the Lord by Brenton Brown, Brett Younker, Chris Tomlin, Jonathan Smith, and Leeland Mooring

Lyrics:
Robed in everlasting light
Your glory
Floods the earth and fills the skies
Almighty God
There's no one like You

Mountains tremble when You speak
I'm listening
Your whisper changes everything
Almighty God
There's no one like You
Almighty God
There's no one like You

You are the Lord
Forever lifted high
You are the Lord
Compassionate and kind
You are the Lord
Holy Holy Holy is Your name
(Holy Holy Holy is Your name)

Slow to anger rich in love
You're patient
Always chasing after us
This is Your heart
There's no one like You
How great You are
There's no one like You

You are the Lord
Let the nations sing
You are the Lord
Jesus King of Kings
You are the Lord
Holy Holy Holy is Your name
Holy Holy Holy is Your name

You broke off my heavy chains
Left them in the empty grave
There is freedom in Your name
There's no one like You God
There's none like You

Holy Holy Holy is Your name
You are the Lord

Passage:
1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
as wax melts before fire,
so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad;
they shall exult before God;
they shall be jubilant with joy!

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the LORD;
exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

11 The Lord gives the word;
the women who announce the news are a great host:
12 “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”
The women at home divide the spoil—
13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds—
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
its pinions with shimmering gold.
14 When the Almighty scatters kings there,
let snow fall on Zalmon.

15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,
at the mount that God desired for his abode,
yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;
the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 You ascended on high,
leading a host of captives in your train
and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.

19 Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation,
and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
(Psalm 68:1–20 ESV)

Musical Reflection:
Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major, K. 545: II. Andante by W. A. Mozart

Reflection Notes:
In true fashion for Mozart’s middle movements, this Andante blooms slowly with gentle and delicate notes; the melody ascends in joyful fashion at the most climactic points before settling back down with the satisfying left hand harmonies.

Prayer:
Almighty God, give us wisdom to perceive you, intellect to understand you, diligence to seek you, patience to wait for you, eyes to behold you, a heart to meditate on you and life to proclaim you, through the power of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-Attributed to Benedict of Nursia