His name is the Lord!

Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies. Let those who hate God run for their lives. Blow them away like smoke. Melt them like wax in fire. Let the wicked perish in the presence of God. But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God's presence. Let them be filled with joy. Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord – rejoice in his presence! Psalm 68: 1-4 NLT

Psalm 68 is a pretty bloody psalm. It begins by asking God to get ride of all God's enemies in a most horrific way. It asks that God rise up and scatter all who hate God, making them run for their lives. But they won't be able to run. God will kill them by blowing them away like smoke and/or melting them like wax in fire. They will all die in the presence of God.

When this happens, everyone who is godly (and who is left) will rejoice. Probably because they were not incinerated! Seriously, the psalm says they will be glad in God's presence rather than dead. They will be filled with joy and sing to God.

You have got to be pretty angry to ask God to make this happen. You have to be incredibly confident in your own belief and relationship with God to want this. In fact, I think you would have to be down trodden and oppressed for this scenario to make you happy.

Maybe you are there right now. Maybe you have been there in the past. And you may possibly be there in the future. The destruction of God's enemies (and ours) aside, we all can pray for joy in God's presence.

God, no matter what, may I experience true joy in your presence. May I always be able to praise you when in worship and prayer. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2012 Amelia G. Sims