Psalms 68:17-35: a reflection

17The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary. 18You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among people, yes, among the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell there. 19Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. Selah. 20God is to us a God of deliverance. To GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death. 21But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness. 22The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea, 23that you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.” 24They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. 25The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, among the ladies playing with tambourines, 26“Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!” 27There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. 28Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us. 29Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring presents to you. 30Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample under foot the bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war. 31Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God. 32Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord—Selah— 33to him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice. 34Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies. 35You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!

In the midst of this psalm's praise comes a line of quiet, daily comfort: Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. The God of tremendous majesty, whose chariots are tens of thousands, is also the God who daily bears the burdens of his people. Day by day, he carries what would weigh us down; the burdens we bear are borne, day after day, by God. The great God stoops to carry our daily load.

Notice what the psalmist says God does: he daily bears our burdens. Not once, and then leaving us to carry the rest ourselves; but daily, day after day, God bears the burdens of his people. The load we carry is not carried by us alone; God bears it with us and for us, each day. However heavy the burden, and however many the days, God is daily bearing it, carrying what would otherwise crush us. The God of majesty is, day by day, the bearer of his people's burdens.

That is a daily comfort, for we carry burdens that can feel too heavy, day after day. We bear loads, of care, responsibility, sorrow, that weigh on us daily, and can feel we carry them alone, that no one shares the weight; but the psalmist says God daily bears our burdens. You do not carry your burdens alone; God bears them with you, day by day, carrying what would otherwise crush you. When your burdens feel too heavy, and the days of carrying them long, remember that God daily bears them; he is, each day, carrying the load with you and for you. Do not imagine you carry your burdens alone; the God of majesty daily bears the burdens of his people, carrying your daily load, however heavy. Cast your burdens each day on the God who daily bears them, trusting him to carry what would crush you, as the psalmist blessed the Lord who daily bears our burdens.

Lord, in the midst of this psalm's praise comes a line of quiet, daily comfort: blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. The God of tremendous majesty is also the God who daily bears the burdens of his people. Day by day, you carry what would weigh me down; the burdens I bear are borne, day after day, by you. The great God stoops to carry my daily load. Show me what the psalmist says you do: you daily bear our burdens. Not once, and then leaving me to carry the rest myself; but daily, day after day, you bear the burdens of your people. The load I carry is not carried by me alone; you bear it with me and for me, each day. However heavy the burden, you are daily bearing it, carrying what would otherwise crush me. Give me that daily comfort, for I carry burdens that can feel too heavy, day after day. I bear loads, of care, responsibility, sorrow, that weigh on me daily, and can feel I carry them alone; but you daily bear my burdens. I do not carry them alone; you bear them with me, day by day. When my burdens feel too heavy, and the days of carrying them long, help me remember that you daily bear them. Keep me from imagining I carry my burdens alone; you daily bear the burdens of your people. Help me cast my burdens each day on the God who daily bears them, Lord, trusting you to carry what would crush me.