Psalms 68:1-16: a reflection

1Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him. 2As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 3But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness. 4Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to the LORD, his name! Rejoice before him! 5A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. 6God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land. 7God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... Selah. 8The 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. 9You, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance when it was weary. 10Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor. 11The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company. 12“Kings of armies flee! They flee!” She who waits at home divides the plunder, 13while you sleep among the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold. 14When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon. 15The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged. 16Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, the LORD will dwell there forever.

Amid this psalm's praise of God arising to scatter his enemies comes a tender picture of who this God is. A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God sets the lonely in families; he brings out the prisoners with singing. The God whose coming scatters his enemies is the same God who has a special care for the most vulnerable and isolated: the orphan, the widow, the lonely, the prisoner. He is their father, their defender, the one who sets the solitary in families.

Notice God's special care for the vulnerable and isolated. He is not only exalted; he is the father of the fatherless, the defender of widows, the one who sets the lonely in families and brings prisoners out with singing. His heart goes out particularly to those the world overlooks and leaves alone: the orphaned, the widowed, the isolated, the imprisoned. The exalted God stoops with tender care to the most vulnerable, being father to the fatherless and setting the lonely in families.

That tender care of God for the isolated and vulnerable is a comfort, especially when we ourselves feel lonely or overlooked. We can feel isolated, without the family or belonging or defense we long for; and it can seem that no one particularly cares. But God has a special heart for the lonely and vulnerable; he is a father to the fatherless, a defender of the defenseless, the one who sets the solitary in families. If you feel lonely, isolated, or overlooked, remember that God has a particular care for such as you; he is the father of the fatherless, the one who sets the lonely in families. Do not think yourself beyond care because you feel alone; the exalted God stoops with tender care to the isolated and vulnerable, being father to the fatherless and defender of the widow. Rest in the God who has a special heart for the lonely, who sets the solitary in families and brings the prisoner out with singing, and who cares tenderly for you in your isolation.

Lord, amid this psalm's praise of you arising to scatter your enemies comes a tender picture of who you are: a father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation; God sets the lonely in families; he brings out the prisoners with singing. The God whose coming scatters your enemies is the same God who has a special care for the most vulnerable and isolated. Show me your special care for the vulnerable and isolated. You are not only exalted; you are the father of the fatherless, the defender of widows, the one who sets the lonely in families. Your heart goes out particularly to those the world overlooks and leaves alone. You stoop with tender care to the most vulnerable. Give me the comfort of that care, especially when I feel lonely or overlooked. I can feel isolated, without the family or belonging or defense I long for; and it can seem that no one particularly cares. But you have a special heart for the lonely and vulnerable; you are a father to the fatherless, a defender of the defenseless. If I feel lonely, isolated, or overlooked, help me remember that you have a particular care for such as me. Keep me from thinking myself beyond care because I feel alone; you stoop with tender care to the isolated and vulnerable, Lord. Help me rest in the God who has a special heart for the lonely, and who cares tenderly for me in my isolation.