A God of power…and mercy

As I read Psalm 68, two things strike me.  First, God’s power.

It starts out with a prayer showing God’s power to cast down the enemy.

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

May you blow them away like smoke—as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.  (Psalm 68:1-2)

Then in talking about how God led the people out of Egypt and into the promised land, it says,

When you, God, went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.  (7-8)

The psalmist then bursts out singing,

Summon your power, God; show us your strength, our God, as you have done before.  (28)

And again,

Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the heavens.

You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.  (34-35)

As I look at all this, the power of God makes me stand in awe.

But in the midst of this psalm, we see something else.  God’s mercy.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing.  (5-6)

In talking about leading the people to the promised land, it says,

You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.

Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.  (9-10)

But perhaps the verse that I like most is the one that says,

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.  (19)

It is awesome to think of the power of God.  That he is in control and that he can truly do anything.

But it is even more awesome to think of his mercy and grace towards us.

That he looks down upon us and that he actually cares for us.  That he sees our burdens and takes them upon himself.

That he sees our needs and provides.  That he sees our loneliness and gives us his presence.  That he sees our captivity and sets us free.

Lord, I thank you that you are a God of power.  That you can do all things.  But I thank you even more that you care for us and love us.  

Lord, may I sense more of your presence in my life.  May I see more of your power in my life.  Show me your strength as you have done before.  

But let me also see more of your mercy.  And let me share what you’ve given me with those around me.  May they see in me your power and your mercy.  In Jesus’ name, amen.