Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary God Pause - Moved by the Promise for Tuesday, 27 May 2014 - Read Psalm 68:1-10

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary God Pause - Moved by the Promise for Tuesday, 27 May 2014 - Read Psalm 68: For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song.
1 Let God arise!
    Let his enemies be scattered!
    Let them who hate him also flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away,
    so drive them away.
As wax melts before the fire,
    so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad.
    Let them rejoice before God.
    Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing to God! Sing praises to his name!
    Extol him who rides on the clouds:
to Yah, his name!
    Rejoice before him!
5 A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows,
    is God in his holy habitation.
6 God sets the lonely in families.
He brings out the prisoners with singing,
    but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
7 God, when you went out before your people,
    when you marched through the wilderness...
Selah.
8 The earth trembled.
    The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai—
    at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 You, God, sent a plentiful rain.
    You confirmed your inheritance, when it was weary.
10 Your congregation lived therein.
    You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth!
    Sing praises to the Lord!
Selah.
33 To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old;
    behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe strength to God!
    His excellency is over Israel,
    his strength is in the skies.
35 You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries.
    The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people.
    Praise be to God!(World English Bible)
I am a walking pray-er. As I walk, I'm reminded of something Philip Yancey stresses in his book "Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?" "God is the starting point of prayer." To that end, I have found it helpful to use Luther's meanings to the three articles of the Apostle's Creed as the words of my prayer.
Next, my prayers always focus on my family, praying for what I call "God's Psalm 91 Protection" for them, not the least for my two-year-old grandson (my only grandchild) who came into my life when I was 78 years old. Especially when I walk in the mall, I lift up prayers for people I pass—youth, couples, senior citizens, and those little ones I have come to treasure since the birth of my grandson.
The psalms are the Prayer Book of the Bible. Psalm 68 is a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for God our protector, a psalm that truly helps one to "begin with God."
Protecting God, thank you for being a "God who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." Amen.
Selmer "Sam" Hatlestad
Watertown, S.D. 
Master of Divinity , 1964
Psalm 68:1 Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.
3 But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy.
4 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.
5 Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
6 God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, (Selah)
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, (Selah)
33 O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel; and whose power is in the skies.

35 Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!(New Revised Standard Version)
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