I was challenged by the bigness of Psalm 68. Not so much the number of verses; but the number of values.
The first value is holding high standards: “Arise O God, and scatter your enemies. Let those who hate God run for their lives. Drive them off like smoke blown by the wind (Psalm 68:1-2, NLT).”
The second value is helping the powerless: “Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this God whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy (Psalm 68:5-6, NLT).
Can we do both? Most Christians and churches I know seem to camp out almost exclusively in one value or the other. Some love opposing the ungodly and defending God’s standards, but fail to show compassion on the orphan, widow, alienated and prisoner. Other Christians/churches commit themselves fully to the powerless, but seem to forget about God’s call to righteous living.
How I long for days filled with both purity and love, for a life of both holiness and helpfulness, for churches passionate about both righteousness and the powerless!