‘You stretch out your right hand,

    and the earth swallows your enemies.

13 In your unfailing love you will lead

    the people you have redeemed.

In your strength you will guide them

    to your holy dwelling.

14 The nations will hear and tremble;

    anguish will grip the people of Philistia.

15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,

    the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,

the people of Canaan will melt away;

16     terror and dread will fall on them.

By the power of your arm

    they will be as still as a stone –

until your people pass by, Lord,

    until the people you bought pass by.

17 You will bring them in and plant them

    on the mountain of your inheritance –

the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,

    the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.

18 ‘The Lord reigns

    for ever and ever.’

I note here:

  • God’s Hand of restraint on His enemies: ‘What was poetically envisaged was historically borne out. The word of God as a weapon of our warfare is mighty to pull down strongholds (2 Cor.10:4). The reference to the neighbouring territories is a list of potential or inevitable opponents: Edom and Moab on the invasion route; Canaan, the promised possession; and Philistia, a more remote power but a future threat. In whatever category opponents fall, they are immobilised while Israel takes its promised possession (16).’ Alec Motyer: ‘The message of Exodus’, p.168.
  • God’s fulfillment of His Word to His people (17,18): The Lord who “reigns for ever and ever” will do for them just as He promised;
  • God’s glorifying of His own Name: At the heart of my prayers for the current conflict is a desire that God will bring honour to His own great Name and cause the nations to fear Him. He has done it before and He can do it again.

PRAYER: Lord may all nations come to see that you are God, and bow the knee to you.