Thoughts for the Day

Praise and Thanksgiving

Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered;
let those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
as wax melts before the fire,
let the wicked perish before God.
But let the righteous be joyful;
let them exult before God;
let them be jubilant with joy.

Sing 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.

Father of orphans and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
God gives the desolate a home to live in;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious live in a parched land.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Psalm 68 has always been linked to processions, notably the carrying of the Ark of the Covenant. It was probably composed by David, when the ark was carried from the house of Obed-Edom to the heights of Jerusalem with great rejoicing, as described in 2 Samuel 6.12. The opening words of the psalm also echo that used at an earlier time when the Ark was moved. For we read, in Numbers 10.35:

'Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say,
"Arise, O Lord, let your enemies be scattered,
and your foes flee before you."'

God is seem as going before His people to protect them from all evil on the Ark's long journey to Jerusalem.

So it is that in the Christian calendar the psalm has always been sung at this time of the church year - for Ascension or Pentecost - as God's new plan for His people comes into action. We don't have an Ark with tablets of stone carried before us for we have God's help within us, in the shape of the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 5.8 describes evil as "Like a roaring lion", and says "your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour." But evil is not always as obvious as a roaring lion. It can often be a battle with our conscience, that means we have to stand up and be counted. Evil can be a whisper rather than a weapon pointed at us!

Lord God,
we ask Your protection from all evil,
and that we will be aware of its presence,
in our own life and those around us.
May we hold the gold standard of 'Love'
against evil and be able to recognise it.
Then give us the moral and physical strength
to combat it no matter the danger,
through the power of Your Spirit.
Amen.