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Psalm 68 | King James Audio Bible
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Psalm 68 expresses divine triumph, blessing, and glorious manifestation of God’s presence among His people. The psalm is a compelling and resonant exhortation to God, a celebration of God’s sovereignty, and an exploration of God’s redemptive and providential actions in the world.
Psalm 68 is a psalm of triumph, evoking the image of a victorious God arising to scatter His enemies and dispel those who harbour hatred in their hearts. The psalm’s opening lines resound with an urgent call for God’s intervention: ‘Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.’ This fervent invocation is a frequent motif in the Psalms, emphasizing God’s power to conquer adversity and vanquish foes.
Imagery employed in the psalm is vivid and striking. The psalmist likens God’s enemies to smoke and wax, driven away and consumed by God’s divine presence, evoking a vivid portrayal of God’s power to eradicate wickedness. In contrast, the righteous are called to rejoice in God’s presence, demonstrating the profound joy that faith in God’s triumph can bring. ‘But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice,’ the psalmist proclaims, setting the stage for a jubilant outpouring of praise.
The psalmist invites the people to sing and praise God’s name, extolling Him as the one who rides upon the heavens, a name synonymous with Jah, which we know as Yahweh, and who reigns supreme. This image of God’s celestial authority reflects the prevailing theme of divine supremacy woven throughout the psalm.
Psalm 68 underscores the compassionate and just nature of God. He is portrayed as ‘a father of the fatherless’ and ‘a judge of the widows,’ offering solace and justice to the vulnerable. God transforms the solitary into families, liberates the bound, and provides for the needy, illustrating His role as a benevolent and caring deity.
The psalmist’s language then transitions to evoke memories of God’s presence in history, particularly during the exodus. The verses describe God’s awe-inspiring power, His role in delivering His people from bondage, and His presence at Mount Sinai, where the earth shook and the heavens dropped in His presence.
The psalm praises God’s bountiful provision of rain and confirms His inheritance in the land, emphasizing God’s role as the provider for His people.
The psalmist celebrates the giving of the word by the Lord and victorious battles waged by the people with divine support. The imagery of God ascending on high, leading captivity captive, and receiving gifts for men speaks of God as the triumphant, generous sovereign.
As the psalm progresses, it extols the God of salvation, acknowledging His role in granting strength and power to His people. God’s capability to wound the heads of His enemies is acknowledged, and His promise to bring His people from various lands and seas is celebrated.
Psalm 68 | King James Audio Bible KJV | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ
Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him.
A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever.
The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.
But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea.
That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.
Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.
Key Themes Of The Psalm For Reflection | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ
- Divine Triumph: The psalm celebrates the divine triumph of God over His enemies and the scattering of those who oppose Him.
- God’s Presence And Power: The psalm vividly portrays God’s presence and power, likening His enemies to smoke and wax, driven away by His might.
- Rejoicing In Righteousness: The psalm calls for the righteous to rejoice and praise God, emphasizing the profound joy that faith in God’s triumph brings.
- Divine Sovereignty: The psalm extols God as the One who rides upon the heavens, representing His supreme authority and reign.
- Compassion And Justice: The psalm underscores God’s compassionate and just nature, describing Him as a father to the fatherless and a judge of widows, providing solace and justice to the vulnerable.
- Historical Recollection: The psalm recalls God’s presence during significant historical events, such as the exodus, where the earth shook and the heavens dropped at His presence.
- Provision and Inheritance: The psalm praises God for providing rain and securing His inheritance in the land, highlighting His role as the provider for His people.
- Divine Support In Battles: The psalm acknowledges God’s role in providing support in battles and ascribing victories to the divine word.
- Triumphant God of Salvation: The psalm extols God as the God of salvation, acknowledging His strength and power and His ability to conquer His enemies.
- Blessing And Generosity: The psalm celebrates God’s generosity, His ascension on high, and the gifts received for men, underscoring His role as a triumphant and generous sovereign.
- Deliverance And Redemption: The psalm emphasizes God’s promise to deliver His people from various lands and seas, signifying His role as their redeemer.
Psalm 149 is an exultant call to praise, inviting the congregation of the faithful to celebrate God’s glory and justice. The psalm intertwines themes of worship, divine favour, and the execution of judgment [ … ]
Psalm 143 is of the penitential psalms, attributed to David. Psalm 143 articulates a plea for divine intervention and guidance amidst adversity. The psalm opens with a direct appeal to the Lord, emphasizing the urgency and depth of the psalmist’s need for God’s attention and assistance. ‘Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.’ This verse not only serves as an invocation but also sets the tone for the entire psalm, expressing the psalmist’s reliance on God’s faithfulness and righteousness [ … ]
Christian Art | A Boy At Prayer With Jesus | Eucharist Office Of Readings | Eastertide Week 3, Sunday | A Reading From The First Apology Of Saint Justin Martyr In Defence Of The Christians | Celebration Of The Eucharist ‘Celebration of the eucharist.’ Saint Justin Martyr: Celebration of the Eucharist Saint Justin Martyr’s account of Christian Eucharistic worship, written around 155 AD, is one of the earliest and most significant descriptions of the liturgy outside of the New Testament. Composed as part of his First Apology—a formal defense of Christianity addressed to the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius—this passage reveals not only the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the early Church but also the theological, communal, and sacrificial dimensions of Christian worship as it was practised just a few generations after the apostles. Faith, Baptism And The Moral Life As Prerequisites Justin opens by affirming that no one may partake of the Eucharist unless they believe the Church’s teachings, have been baptized (‘washed in the regenerating waters’), and live according to Christ’s commands. This threefold requirement—orthodoxy (right belief), sacramental initiation (baptism), and orthopraxy (right living)—highlights the deeply integrated nature of early Christian identity. Eucharistic communion was not a casual or symbolic act; it was a profound participation in the mystery of Christ, accessible only to those who were fully incorporated into his Body, the Church. Real Presence And Eucharistic Transformation Justin’s teaching on the Eucharist is unmistakably clear: the bread and wine, through the ‘prayer of thanksgiving’ (Greek: eucharistia), become the body and blood of the incarnate Jesus Christ. This is not metaphorical language. Drawing on the Incarnation itself as an analogy, Justin explains that just as Christ became flesh by the power of the Word, so the Eucharistic elements become his flesh and blood by the power of the same Word, invoked in prayer. This theological reasoning lays a foundation for later doctrinal developments such as the Church’s formal teaching on the Real Presence and transubstantiation. Notably, this passage predates the formalization of these doctrines by centuries, yet the essential belief is already fully formed—a powerful testimony to the apostolic origin of the Church’s sacramental theology. The Apostolic Command And Continuity Justin grounds the Eucharistic rite in the direct command of Jesus: Do this in memory of me. He attributes this tradition to the apostles’ ‘recollections’ (anamneses), which are equated with the Gospels. This demonstrates the early Church’s consciousness of its liturgical life being not a novel invention but the faithful continuation of Christ’s instruction, carried on through apostolic succession. The fact that this teaching is described in a public defence of Christianity underscores Justin’s desire to correct Roman misunderstandings about Christian worship, which had been accused of cannibalism due to misinterpretations of Eucharistic language. Sunday Worship And Scriptural Proclamation Justin describes the Sunday assembly (koinē synaxis) as a weekly gathering of Christians from both city and countryside, centered around the reading of Scripture—first the writings of the prophets (the Old Testament), then the apostolic writings (what we now call the New Testament). After the readings, the presider (likely a bishop or priest) offers a homily, encouraging moral and spiritual growth. This structure is clearly recognizable in the Mass today: the Liturgy of the Word followed by the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Importantly, Justin situates this practice within the broader theological framework of the Lord’s Day—the first day of creation and the day of the Resurrection. Thus, Sunday worship is simultaneously eschatological and cosmological: it celebrates not only the new creation in Christ but also the re-creation of the world through his rising from the dead. The Eucharistic Prayer And Communion Justin’s account continues with the presentation of bread, wine, and water, followed by a Eucharistic Prayer during which the president offers thanks ‘to the best of his ability’, and the people respond with ‘Amen.’ This prayer is the epicentre of the liturgy, paralleling the Canon of the Mass. The Eucharist is then distributed to those present, and deacons carry it to those absent—perhaps the sick or imprisoned. This detail reveals the strong pastoral and communal dimension of the Eucharist. It is not a private devotion but a gift of Christ shared with the whole body, particularly the vulnerable. Charity And Ecclesial Responsibility The offering of gifts by the wealthy, administered by the president and used for the support of the poor, widows, orphans, and the imprisoned, reflects how closely the Eucharist was tied to practical charity. The Eucharist made real the communion of the faithful with Christ and with one another. It was not only a mystical participation in Christ’s body but also a lived expression of solidarity and sacrificial love. This aspect finds resonance in Acts 2:42–47 and remains central to Catholic social teaching. Apostolic Tradition In Action Justin’s testimony, written a mere century after the Resurrection, powerfully confirms that the early Church’s Eucharistic worship—centred on the Word, Sacrament, community, and charity—was already well-developed and firmly grounded in apostolic tradition. His witness is critical not only for understanding the historical roots of the Mass but also for deepening modern appreciation of the Eucharist’s enduring meaning. In our own time, when the mystery of the Eucharist is often misunderstood, taken for granted, or even rejected, Justin’s words remind us that the Church has always confessed the true and substantial presence of Christ in the Eucharist. His account also reinforces the communal, sacrificial, and transformative nature of this sacrament, which, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, is the ‘source and summit of the Christian life’ (CCC 1324). A Reading From The First Apology Of Saint Justin Martyr In Defence Of The Christians | Celebration Of The Eucharist No one may share the Eucharist with us unless he believes that what we teach is true, unless he is washed in the regenerating waters of baptism for the remission of his sins, and unless he lives in accordance with the principles given us by Christ. We do not consume the eucharistic bread and wine as […]
