And though today’s Text is a rather “mild” such prayer … it is nonetheless quite powerful! “Imprecatory,” they call it.

It is found at the Head (actually Verse 1) of Psalm 68. “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.”

A request that God’s enemies be “scattered,” a Hebrew verb meaning “dispersed, driven away,” and even “broken to pieces!”

Wow!

(Note clearly that this Petition is directed against GOD”S ENEMIES, not my personal antagonists!)

I’d say anyone praying this prayer persistently and sincerely is engaging in spiritual warfare! (Do recall that Paul, in his classic Ephesian 6 Paragraph about battling evil ended that Sequence with the subject of prayer! Just compare Ephesians 6:17 with the following 18th verse.)

The very idea of praying God’s enemies “away,” how thrilling!

There’s nothing violent here, nothing sinister. Just asking God’s Will to be done on planet earth! (Now this is sounding like the Lord’s Prayer a little bit! “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Quoting Matthew 6:10.

Then I remembered that Psalm 68:1 (discussed above, our Text today) is alluding to a prayer Moses prayed time and time again as he led the Jews through the desert wilderness toward the Land of Canaan. Here it is …

“And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and LET THINE ENEMIES BE SCATTERED; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.” Numbers 10:35

Wow!

But here’s the question. Can we pray this prayer today? In the Age of Grace, the Church Age?

I think that if God still has enemies … probably more than ever, truth be told … we can (and should) still pray this Prayer!

“Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.”

That, if answered, would nearly empty a lot of American cities, schools and courthouses! Or so it seems.

But really, asking God to deal with His enemies is no more than praying that Line from Jesus’ great Model Prayer … “Lord, Thy Kingdom Come!”

Because once that happens (when Jesus returns to earth) none of God enemies will be left here!

They will be scattered, or worse!

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Psalm 67 is a unique Passage of Scripture. It might be summarized by a single sentence, a condensation:

“When the praises go up … the Blessings will come down!”

But one Line in this Psalm expresses a prayer, quite a big one, that has not yet been fully answered. Look with me at verse 3 …

“Let the people praise thee, O God; let ALL the people praise thee.”

Now no doubt, many people have praised the Lord today. But not “all the people!”

Yet the day is on the horizon (maybe even soon) where that bold petition will become reality!

Where and when “All the people will praise the Lord!”

As in Philippians 2:10 … “At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Zechariah 14:16 agrees: “That every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.”

ALL THE PEOPLE!

In this age when nation after nation is becoming “reprobate” in the Eyes of God … we need a Christian “family” of Brothers and Sisters who will stand strong and genuinely “praise the Lord!”

Will YOU be part of that choir?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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That’s exactly what Psalm 66:1 highlights … “Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.” THE HONOUR OF THE NAME OF THE LORD!

In Old Testament parlance one’s “name” is synonymous to one’s “reputation, character, essence!”

You are what your name says you to be!

Then God’s Name, thrice Holy, is worthy of exceptional, singular Honour!

Look how the Lord Himself feels about His Name … “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7

Wow!

The verb “to sing” in our Text verse today means “to make music,” either with the voice or some type of instrument. It is simply spelled “zamar” in Hebrew.

And “honour” is “kabod,” initially meaning something very “heavy!” Spiritually speaking, allowing God’s NAME to weigh a lot in your estimation, in your thinking,. in your life! Treating Him with heavy respect, ponderous reverence!

“Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.”

Then the noun “praise” (a derivative of the Hebrew word “halal”) suggests joyful exuberance, on a “hallelujah” level, in fact!

And the word “glorious” takes us back to the “kabod” family! Make His Praise a HEAVY PART of your life, of your daily activity.

Amazing!

Two imperatives … “sing forth” and “make glorious!”

Both commands centering around the very HONOUR of God’s Name!

Amen!

Now we’ve briefly studied it, let’s go out and live it this Saturday, this weekend, the rest of our time on earth! We will certainly practice it in Heaven! In New Jerusalem!

Forever more!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Psalm 65 opens (in verse 2) with this great Fact about God: “O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come.”

This Truth alone, if the Psalm had not another word, could provide spiritual strength for a long time!

Built around the Theme of Praise, Psalm 65 is actually a Prayer within itself. Look at verse 1 … “Praise waiteth for thee, O God.” Direct address, hence prayer, to the Almighty!

Then David continues to praise/thank God for one great blessing after another. Some examples: forgiveness (verse 3), fellowship (verse 4), His omnipresence (verse 5), power (verse 6), sunrises and sunsets (verse 8), rain (verse 9), and even for the crops and livestock (verses 12-13)!

By Psalm’s end the whole creation is praising God!

And right in the center of all this beautiful Worship … is our little jewel of a Verse … “O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come.”

O my Christian friend … do not let this morning pass away until you have talked some with the Lord … communed with “The God That Hearest Prayer!”

God listens (the secondary meaning of “shama,” the Hebrew verb “hearest” in our Text) when we pray!

Talk about incentive!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Have you ever heard this little saying? “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me.”

I’ve been able to trace it back to the mid-1800’s. And surprisingly, it is not part of some long, epic poem on verbal use or abuse. Just that single, compound sentence!

But Psalm 64 makes me think otherwise. About our words, that is.

REALLY THE BIBLE QUITE OFTEN HAS THE OPPOSITE OPINION TO UNSAVED HUMANITY! THE BIBLE IS TRUTH. PEOPLE ARE OFTEN GUIDED BY LIES!

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25

“Let God be true, but every man a liar.” Romans 3:4

The Psalmist David, in praying for safety from his (many) enemies … characterized the wicked this way:

“Who whet their tongue like a SWORD, and bend their bows to shoot their ARROWS, even bitter words.”

Tongues like SWORDS!

Words like shot ARROWS!

Weapons indeed!

No wonder Solomon write: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21

Wow!

So much for that little Sticks and Stones “ditty!” (From the Latin word for “dictate.”)

We as Christians must be “extra careful” with our words!

Not to be hurtful.

To this extent, in fact … “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Quoting the unique Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:29

Lord, “tame our tongues” please!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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