Protector of Widows: Psalm 68-Supplication through the Scriptures

Protector of Widows

Psalm 68

He is…the Protector of Widows. He is so glorious that he rides on the heavens, but so compassionate that he remembers the poor of the earth. How zealously ought his church to cherish those who are here marked out as Jehovah's especial charge.

Charles Spurgeon

The context of Psalm 68 is God as the Divine Warrior of His people. He scatters His enemies and all those who hate Him flee. The analogy the psalmist uses is that of wax melting before the fire, and so shall God’s enemies be. And because of the great deliverances He procures for His people, He is their Divine Warrior and their Great Champion. He is described as having chariots twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands (68:17). He is the God of salvation, who daily bears up His people, summoning His power on their behalf (68:19-20,28). And in this context, God declares Himself to be the Protector of widows (Psalm 68:5). 

“Loss of a spouse is one of the most negative life events, next only to the loss of a child” (Sareen ). God, ever tender toward the deepest needs of His people, and especially the most vulnerable, says that He will be the One who will protect, shelter, and cover widows, those who have experienced one of life’s most negative events. Our God who is rich in mercy, compassion, and abounding in steadfast love supports the widow (Psalm 146:9) and says, “let your widows trust in Me” (Jeremiah 49:11 NASB). 

Our duty to widows is to listen to their pleas, whether overtly or through careful listening and observation (Isaiah 1:23). Plead with the Lord on behalf of the widows we know, confidant that He cares for their needs and listens to our cries on their behalf (Isaiah 1:17). We should be careful to not overlook them, but rather we should honor them and seek to meet their needs wherever we can (1 Timothy 5:3). 

Let’s pray through Psalm 68 for the widows we know that first and foremost their hope would be fixed on God (1 Timothy 5:5). Then let’s seek to minister to them, being the hands and feet of Christ.

He Who Rides Through the Deserts 

68:1-4 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him! As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God! But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy! 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! 

Let’s pray for the widows in our lives:

▫️God would arise on their behalf and provide all their needs. Needs for: home repairs, bills, companionship, sense of purpose, loneliness, medical needs, decision making, and all other needs.

▫️God would drive away doubt, discouragement, despair, hopelessness, and fear, and He would help them to rest and hope in Him and the shelter He provides.

▫️The Lord would in time replace their mourning with gladness, make their hearts glad, and give them many reasons to be jubilant with joy. He would provide friendships, time with family, and opportunities to use their giftedness to bless others.

▫️Because God goes through the desert with them, they would have reasons to sing praise to Him. He would fill their hearts with a new song to the Lord as they find Him faithful to His promises.

Protector of Widows

68:5-10 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

Let’s pray for our widows:

▫️The Lord truly would be their protector. He would protect them from those who would take advantage of them, perhaps even their own family members. He would protect and provide for them financially.

▫️The Lord would surround them with community—friendships, church relationships, and family. He would settle the solitary in a home, a place for them to belong. He would use us to be that community and to welcome into our families and our lives those widows in need of connection.

▫️The Lord would rain in abundance upon them. He would pour out His own Spirit, His Word, His presence, His peace, and His hope abundantly upon our widows.

▫️He would restore the places where they are languishing.

▫️In His goodness, God would provide for the needy.

He Daily Bears Us Up

68:17-21The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary. 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. Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death. But God will strike the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways. 

Let’s pray for widows:

▫️They would know the Lord’s nearness and that He is among them. In times of deep grief and sorrow over the loss of their husbands, they would be comforted by the Lord.

▫️The Lord would dwell in their homes and His aroma would be manifest in their homes and in their lives.

▫️The Lord would daily, even moment by moment, bear them up. When they are dealing with new circumstances, or helping their children through their grief, or overwhelmed with sadness of living an unexpected life, the Lord would bear them up in His everlasting arms.

▫️He would be their God of salvation, and the hope of the resurrection would be theirs. They would rest in the hope of eternity with the Lord, the One who conquered sin and death. 

▫️Whatever additional trouble they face, God would show Himself a mighty warrior on their behalf. He would strike down physical, spiritual, mental, or emotional enemies they face.

He Gives Power to His People

68:28-35 Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us. Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you. Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war. Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God. O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!

Let’s pray:

▫️The Lord would summon His power on their behalf and He would do exceedingly abundantly above all they could ask or think—even in the midst of loss.

▫️The widow would stretch out her hands to God, turning to Him in all her distress and looking to Him to faithfully be her protector and provider.

▫️The Lord would send out His mighty voice speaking to them through His Word and giving them words of comfort that speak directly to their soul.

▫️The Lord would give power and strength to these widows. In their weakness, He would be their strength. In their sorrow, He would be their abundant comfort. In their confusion, He would be their peace. In their distress, He would be their help and hope.

May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, for His glory and our good, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All right reserved.

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