Day 306.
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! (Psalm 68:1-3 ESV)
David shows the powerful side of God in this Psalm. He comes to do battle with his enemy and none can stand before Him. Sometimes we forget this side of God. It is good to remember the compassionate and merciful aspects of God’s character but we should not mistake his compassion for weakness. When Israel was brought out of Egypt and led into the land promised to Abraham, the nations occupying that area were destroyed (though God left some to “test” Israel). When God rescued Israel from Egypt he decimated Egypt. God is not one to be trifled with. These events foreshadow the final victory that the Lord will accomplish when he returns. There will be no place the enemies of God can flee to escape His power and judgment. The only safe haven, according to Psalm 2, is at his feet, begging for mercy and bowing in complete surrender and submission. “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you perish” says the Psalmist in Psalm 2.
Do you ever think about this side of God’s character? How does that affect you?
Praise God for his power and might and the confidence to know that His enemies will one day be brought down in totality.
McCheyne’s reading plan: 2 Ki 15, Ti 1, Ho 8, Ps 68
It makes me think we sometimes treat God with little respect. It makes me want to be one if the righteous, and the only for that is to “kiss the son” which is to believe in Jesus.