Psalm 68
April 19, 2026
Father of the fatherless, protector of widows, the shelterer of the solitary, the leader of prisoners to prosperity,
We come before you this morning, in the Spirit of this Psalm, remembering your past faithfulness.
This Psalm opens with the same words we find in the book of Numbers that, “Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, ‘Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.’”
Lord, how long-suffering and gracious were you with your people in the wilderness.
They constantly questioned why you took them out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. They constantly complained of lack of food and water. They even complained of the miraculous manna you gave to them. They complained about their leaders, specifically Moses. They complained about the dangers they faced. They complained about the laws you gave them.
Not only that, they regularly doubted your goodness, your providence, and your power.
They built a golden calf and proclaimed: “This is the one who saved us and delivered us!”
Lord, it might be easy for us to look afar and scoff at the behavior and words and thoughts of the Israelites, but how often are they our own. How often are those my words and thoughts and actions.
Lord, we open with pleas for your mercy.
We say again verse 19: 19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.
We do not deserve your faithfulness, Lord, and there’s nothing we can do to repay it. We can simply praise you and thank you for who you are.
So, Lord, we thank you for your justice, that you will scatter your enemies and they will melt like wax before you.
We thank you for your grace that sets aside a people for yourself who rejoice and exult in you and your salvation.
We thank you, Lord, that you are mindful of those little people in the world we often forget — the fatherless, the widows, the homeless, and those in prison.
We thank you also Lord for the prophetic wonder of verse 11-12: 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.
And what greater announcement would there be than your resurrection? And it was women who first made the announcement and saw the empty tomb.
We thank you, Lord, for verse 18 and the reminder of Pentecost and the great gift of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in all who believe.
We thank you, Lord, for our brothers and sisters in this room. Ephesians 4:8-12 quotes this Psalm: “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” …11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…
We thank you, Lord, for that body, for every single member of it, and for the mutual encouragement our fellowship together brings.
Lord, we recognize the privilege we have of being in this country you’ve placed us in where we can meet together like this and we pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are not able to gather together like this.
Be with our Global Partners in Africa and Asia and those stateside here who are seeking to bring your good news to a needy world.
Father, we pray that as we consider all your faithfulness in these things, that we would have renewed trust in you to be faithful in all the burdens and questions we bring into this room.
Lord, this Psalm ends with the reminder, “God is the one who gives power and strength to his people,” so we ask LORD for strength to understand and comprehend your word now. We pray also for power, Spirit-given power, to believe all the wonderful things it teaches and promises.
And all God’s people said: Amen.