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Sometimes I’m still
surprised at how our culture is less and less friendly to Christian thought and
Biblical truth.  Christians are tolerated
so long as we’re “tolerant”—which is code for not adhering to any absolutes
except the absolute that there is no absolute. If we live like we’re called to
live, trouble will follow.  But God is
faithful.  His truth is constant.  And Psalm 68 reminds us again of His power
and presence.

 

We start this study through
Psalm 68 with the first three verses.

 

1 May
God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.

2 May
you blow them away like smoke— as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked
perish before God.

3 But
may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.

 

Interesting that David
starts off with a prayer sounding remarkably similar to the prayer Moses made
when the Ark of the Covenant moved out in front of the Hebrew nation in the
desert (Numbers 10:35).  The Ark of the
Covenant represented the power, presence, and protection of the Israel’s Divine
Warrior.  Here in our passage, David
makes a powerful statement of faith: in the presence of the Lord God Almighty,
His enemies are just smoke.  This smoke
is quickly blown away without effort.

 

The righteous, however,
stood in a very different place with the Lord. 
We can “be glad and rejoice” in His presence.  Happiness and joy are marks of the lives of
the righteous.

 

And why can we be so
happy?  Our Great King is not like others
of great importance.  Kings and rulers of
the world surround themselves with people who either make them look good or
keep them looking good.  Not so with
Almighty God.  He desires a relationship
with the unlovable, unworthy, and unrighteous. 
Instead of seeking out those who “ride the coattails” of the Lord, He
seeks those He can make worthy of His presence. 
What a difference! 

 

What’s even greater than
that is this: our Great King stands ready to defend His people.  We can ask for His protection because He offers
it.  Not only can we ask for it, we NEED
to ask for it.  Life is hard, yes?  Full of ups and downs, yes?  It’s not all roses when we walk with the
Lord; persecution tends to follow, yes? 
This is why we still need the Divine Warrior.

 

Paul reminds us of this in
2 Thessalonians 3:2–5 2 And
pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has
faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you
and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the
Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5 May
the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

 

Keep climbing!