Rise up, Our Father
For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song.
68 1 May our Father arise; may his enemies be scattered, and may those who hate him flee before him. 2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish before our Father. 3 But may the righteous be glad; may they rejoice before our Father; may they be jubilant with joy. 4 Sing to our Father, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts — his name is our Father — and exult before him. 5 A father to the fatherless and defender of widows is our Father in his holy dwelling. 6 Our Father settles the lonely in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. 7 O our Father, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wasteland, Selah 8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain before our Father, the One of Sinai, before the Father of Israel. 9 O our Father, you poured down rain in abundance; you restored your inheritance as it languished. 10 Your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O our Father, you provided for the needy. 11 The Sovereign Father gives the word; great is the company of women who proclaim the good news: 12 Kings of armies flee, they flee, and she who stays at home divides the plunder. 13 Though you lie down among the sheepfolds — the wings of a dove covered with silver, its feathers shimmering with gold. a a v13 The gleaming dove may picture the glory of God's people even at rest, or the rich spoil carried home from victory. 14 When the Almighty scattered kings there, snow fell on Zalmon. 15 O majestic mountain, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan! 16 Why do you look with envy, O many-peaked mountains, at the mountain our Father desired for his dwelling? Yes, our Father will dwell there forever. 17 The chariots of our Father are tens of thousands, thousands upon thousands; the Sovereign Father is among them; Sinai is in the sanctuary. 18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives behind you; you received gifts from the people, even among the rebellious, that our Father might dwell there. b b v18 Paul quotes this verse of Jesus — when he ascended he led captives free and gave gifts to his people (Ephesians 4:8). The victory the psalm sings of our Father is won and shared through the Son. 19 Blessed be the Sovereign Father, day by day; he carries us — the Father of our salvation. Selah
20 Our Father is for us the One who saves; and to the Sovereign Father belong the ways of escape from death. 21 But our Father will shatter the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks on in his guilty ways. 22 The Sovereign Father said, "I will bring them back from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the sea," 23 that you may bathe your feet in their blood, that the tongues of your dogs may get their share from the foe. 24 They see your processions, O our Father, the processions of my Father, my King, into the sanctuary. 25 The singers in front, the musicians last, between them young women playing tambourines: 26 Bless our Father in the great congregation; bless the Sovereign Father, you who spring from Israel's fountain! 27 There is Benjamin, the youngest, leading them, the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali. 28 Your Father has decreed your strength; show your might, O our Father, as you have acted for us before. 29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring you gifts. 30 Rebuke the beast of the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after silver; scatter the peoples who delight in war. c c v30 The beast of the reeds is likely a crocodile or hippopotamus — an ancient symbol for Egypt lurking in the Nile reeds. 31 Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush will hurry to stretch out her hands to our Father. 32 Kingdoms of the earth, sing to our Father; sing praises to the Sovereign Father, Selah 33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens — listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. 34 Ascribe power to our Father, whose majesty is over Israel and whose strength is in the skies. 35 Awesome is our Father from his sanctuary; the Father of Israel — he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be our Father!