GOD'S ENEMIES ARE NO MATCH FOR HIS CONSUMING FIRE

April 7, 2017

GOD'S ENEMIES ARE NO MATCH FOR HIS CONSUMING FIRE

Psalm 68:1-18

Kelsey Carroll

Central Truth

Psalm 68 uses the imagery of melting wax as a reminder of God’s consuming power. God formed the world in six days, and He can literally move mountains and melt the tallest peaks just as quickly.

As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
as wax melts before fire,
so the wicked shall perish before God!
(Psalm 68:2)

God Shall Scatter His Enemies

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.

1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
    and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
    as wax melts before fire,
    so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad;
    they shall exult before God;
    they shall be jubilant with joy!

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
    lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the LORD;
    exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
    is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home;
    he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
    but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when you went out before your people,
    when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
    before God, the One of Sinai,
    before God,^{1

68:8
Or before God, even Sinai before God} the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
    you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10 your flock^{2

68:10
Or your congregation} found a dwelling in it;
    in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

11 The Lord gives the word;
    the women who announce the news are a great host:
12     “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”
The women at home divide the spoil—
13     though you men lie among the sheepfolds—
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
    its pinions with shimmering gold.
14 When the Almighty scatters kings there,
    let snow fall on Zalmon.

15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
    O many-peaked^{3

68:15
Or hunch-backed; also verse 16} mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,
    at the mount that God desired for his abode,
    yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
    thousands upon thousands;
    the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 You ascended on high,
    leading a host of captives in your train
    and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.

Footnotes

[1] 68:8 Or before God, even Sinai before God
[2] 68:10 Or your congregation
[3] 68:15 Or hunch-backed; also verse 16

Is anybody else fascinated by candles? Electricity has been around for over a century, yet there are still thriving companies dedicated to forming wax into cylinders and selling them. What is so great about candles in today’s digitally connected world?

They help celebrate birthdays. They smell good. They provide ambience. They make a perfect hostess gift.

One of the best things about candles is that they go from cold, hard wax to a mini-fire when exposed to a flame. Growing up, I gave myself the job of candle-lighter any time we had a fancy dinner. As my mom finished in the kitchen, I curiously stared at the flame, sometimes even feeling emboldened enough to move my little finger through it. Sorry, Mom.

Wax is mentioned just four times in the ESV Bible (Psalm 22:14, Psalm 68:2, Psalm 97:5, and Micah 1:4). The most common definition of wax is as a noun—a moldable substance. The second is a verb; to grow or become. It doesn’t take long to see how these words are linked. In the King James Bible, Matthew 24:12 reads, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” I love the double entendre there. When you remove the source of heat, wax goes back to its original form.

Psalm 68 was sung to praise God and remind everyone of His victories, which are seen in verse 2. “as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God!” (Psalm 68:2b) Later, the writer chronicles how God led His people to the freedom that He had promised them. When this psalm was written, there were very real armies seeking to kill and destroy God’s people. I think about the times when I have been an enemy of the Lord. When I’m far away from God spiritually, I become cold and hard, like an unlit candle.

Candles weren’t created to maintain their form. They fulfill their purpose when they are burned. We can be torchbearers of God’s light, or we can be hard, immovable wax. I pray my flame stays lit and the burning presence of the Holy Spirit will melt away my sinfulness.

1. When you become a Christian, you enlist in God’s army, fighting the good fight in a fallen world. When you have the opportunity to stand up for Him at work or school, do you? If not, try to pinpoint what is stopping you.

2. Think of a time when God refined you. What changes did you notice when you allowed your hardened heart to melt and become renewed?

3. Evaluate how you spend your time during a normal day. Which habits quell your flame, and which ones keep it burning and spreading?