Rise up, Our Father
For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song.
A procession song. Our Father rides out of the wilderness scattering his enemies, and the same one who shatters kings is named a father to the fatherless and defender of widows, who settles the lonely in homes and leads prisoners out to prosperity.
68 1May our Father arise; may his enemies be scattered, and may those who hate him flee before him. 2As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish before our Father. 3But may the righteous be glad; may they rejoice before our Father; may they be jubilant with joy. 4Sing to our Father, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts—his name is our Father—and exult before him. 5A father to the fatherless and defender of widows is our Father in his holy dwelling. 6Our Father settles the lonely in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. 7O our Father, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wasteland, 8the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain before our Father, the One of Sinai, before the Father of Israel. 9O our Father, you poured down rain in abundance; you restored your inheritance when it was worn out. 10Your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O our Father, you provided for the needy. 11The Sovereign Father gives the word; great is the company of women who proclaim the good news: 12Kings of armies flee, they flee, and she who stays at home divides the plunder. 13Though you lie down among the sheepfolds—the wings of a dove covered with silver, its feathers shimmering with gold. a a v13 The gleaming dove may picture the glory of God's people even at rest, or the rich spoil carried home from victory. 14When the Almighty scattered kings there, snow fell on Zalmon. 15O majestic mountain, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan! 16Why do you look with envy, O many-peaked mountains, at the mountain our Father desired for his dwelling? Yes, our Father will dwell there forever. 17The chariots of our Father are tens of thousands, thousands upon thousands; the Sovereign Father is among them; Sinai is in the sanctuary. 18You ascended on high, leading a host of captives behind you; you received gifts from the people, even among the rebellious, that our Father might dwell there. b b v18 Paul quotes this verse of Jesus — when he ascended he led captives free and gave gifts to his people (Ephesians 4:8). The victory the psalm sings of our Father is won and shared through the Son. 19Blessed be the Sovereign Father, day by day; he carries us—the Father of our salvation.
20Our Father is for us the One who saves; and to the Sovereign Father belong the ways of escape from death. 21But our Father will shatter the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks on in his guilty ways.
22The Sovereign Father said, "I will bring them back from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, 23that you may bathe your feet in their blood, that the tongues of your dogs may get their share from the foe."
24They see your processions, O our Father, the processions of my Father, my King, into the sanctuary. 25The singers in front, the musicians last, between them young women playing tambourines: 26Bless our Father in the great congregation; bless our Father, you who spring from Israel's fountain! 27There is Benjamin, the youngest, leading them, the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali. 28Your Father has decreed your strength; show your might, O our Father, as you have acted for us before. 29Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring you gifts. 30Rebuke the beast of the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after silver; scatter the peoples who delight in war. c c v30 The beast of the reeds is likely a crocodile or hippopotamus — an ancient symbol for Egypt lurking in the Nile reeds. 31Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush will hurry to stretch out her hands to our Father. 32Kingdoms of the earth, sing to our Father; sing praises to the Sovereign Father, 33to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens—listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. 34Ascribe power to our Father, whose majesty is over Israel and whose strength is in the skies. 35Awesome is our Father from his sanctuary; the Father of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be our Father!
