“God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
and those who hate him shall flee before him!
As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
as wax melts before fire,
so the wicked shall perish before God!
But the righteous shall be glad;
they shall exult before God;
they shall be jubilant with joy!
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!
Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity…
O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
you restored your inheritance as it languished…
The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;
the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
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.
Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation.
Our God is a God of salvation,
and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death...
‘Bless God in the great congregation,
the Lord, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!..’
Summon your power, O God,
the power, O God, by which you have worked for us…
O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord
to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!” Psalm 68:1-9,17-20,26,28,32-35
God Almighty is often pictured as on the lookout from His heavenly abode and on the march for His people. Transcendent and limitless, He condescends to know and save and bear up His beloved children. Lord of Kings and kingdoms, individuals and nations, He is worthy of trust and praise.
And why does He seem such a peripheral part of our lives? Why do we relegate Him to times of most urgent need, or sadness? Why do we delight in all He has made yet neglect to thank Him for His many gracious, good gifts?
In the routine of days, we can unknowingly slide into mediocrity and sloth and spiritual sedentariness. We surreptitiously slip into softer rhythms from zeal, and quieter ease from boldness, and grow accustomed to weak, directionless living. The God of the skies, over all and seeing all, rides the heavens to our help, yet, we see Him not. (Deuteronomy 33:26)
When has God protected us, freed us, led us, provided for us? Have we not gazed up from our importances and beheld His majesty that daily interjects our lives? Blessed be He!
What strength of mind, body, or soul are we lacking? Where do we need His rain of inspiration, peace, hope? Will we look up to call on His might today?
Lord, may Your power and strength work in and through me, for Your purposes and glory.
As the rain and snow 