May God Arise!
The sixty-eighth Psalm begins with the phrase, “May God arise. .” (NIV). What follows is David’s song in celebration of God’s triumphal rule of Israel as well as a prayer requesting God to make his presence known in light of his suffering, or possible suffering at the hands of enemies. It is worthy of our attention to note the things that occur with God “arises,” or his presence is made known. David mentions a number of things that happen when “God arises:” “his enemies are scattered;” “his foes flee;” they are “blown away like smoke;” (1,2) “the righteous” are “glad and rejoice. . happy and joyful (3) . . the earth shakes (8) . . there are abundant showers (9) and refreshment (9).
You get the idea. When God makes His presence known, things happen. His enemies are humbled and His followers praise Him.
My question is: If those things are possible when God presents Himself, why do we not pray the same prayer more frequently and with more boldness? Could it be that we are reluctant to ask God to make His presence more obvious in our world is because we are not prepared to see the results of presence. We may even be afraid of what would be required of us should He arise.
Imagine what would happen in your relationship with your mate if you prayed, “May God be revealed in this relationship,” instead of “God, make them meet my needs.”
Imagine what would happen in the relationship with your children (or with your parents) if you prayed, “May God’s presence be obvious in this relationship,”instead of “Lord, make them do what I want them to do.”
Imagine what would happen in your work setting if you prayed, “May God make His presence known in this workplace,” instead of “Just get me through another miserable day.” or “Lord, put me in a better place to work, with better people.”
Imagine what could happen when you are facing a crisis if you prayed, “May God show His power in this situation,”instead of trying to make immediate sense of the situation or asking God to remove the circumstances.
Imagine what would happen when you gather to worship if you prayed, “May God’s presence be felt in this place,”instead of thinking, “How much longer until we get out of here?” or “Lord, entertain me!”
Imagine what would happen in life in general if you prayed, “May God become visible in my life,” instead of demanding life to turn out the way we have planned.
Imagine what would happen in your personal relationship with God if you prayed, “May God arise,” instead of resisting His will and demanding our way.
Paul seemed to have the same idea in mind when wrote these words in Ephesians 3:14 14-21, “For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (NIV)
Don’t miss that last sentence. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” Imagine. . that’s what God wants us to do. Imagine, yet He can do “immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine.” Imagine what He can and will do when we pray “May God arise.”