Recently, while reading a psalm that I’m sure I’ve read many times before, I was blown away by two verses. A heavenly highlighter glided across each, and I sat there in absolute amazement at what the Teacher, the indwelling Spirit of Christ, was pointing out to me. How had I never noticed these verses before? I knew that I had read this psalm on way more than one occasion, but I had no familiarity—no recollection at all—of ever seeing these two verses. How had they not seared a memorable branding in my woman’s mind?
A little later, after spending some time in my journal recording my thoughts regarding the four statements made within these verses, I was talking with my mom and asked, "Have you ever noticed these verses before?" My mother, who's been a student of the Word for almost sixty years and has read and reread the Book of Psalms as I have, could not recall any familiarity, either. And we marveled at how this dynamic duo had been pointed out to me that morning, considering I had been invited by a friend to share in a women's Sunday School class at her church.
Dear woman of faith, below are the two verses I'm still marveling at weeks later. As you read them, whether they’re new to you, too, or you have a prior familiarity with them, please pause for a moment and allow the profundity of the words and the implications of their truth to grab hold of your woman’s heart. Then read them again and out loud—even in a victorious voice that’s in keeping with the awesomeness of their message. Afterward, I’ll share what the Spirit brought to my mind as I consider the statements found within them.
“The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng; Kings and armies flee in haste; the women at home divide the plunder.”
Psalm 68:11-12
“The Lord announces the word.” The writer of Hebrews tells us that God’s words are “alive and active" (4:12). They are breathed words from the mouth of the Creator, truths penned by inspired servants who were “carried along by the Holy Spirit" as they wrote them (Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21). This living, breathing, active Word was announced, in firm, unshakable declaration by the Sovereign of All. And through the help of the indwelling Spirit of Jesus, the “Word. . .made flesh” (John 1:14), it’s announced to you and me. As we hear it, as we read it, as it’s consumed and digested, dear sister, it’s sent into our airspace, within the existence of our realities, that it might be believed and acted upon.
“The women who proclaim it are a mighty throng.” Commentary in my Bible says, “It seems that women were primarily responsible for singing Israel’s songs of victory.” Oh, how I love this! The woman who hears the Word, which the Lord has announced; the one who’s listening, who’s eager to know what it says; the one who’s seeking it out and nourishing herself upon it; the one who's aligning her mind and heart to its governing laws and comforting promises; the one who's choosing to believe it, come what may; it fills her with confidence, with hope. It gives her an energized victory song, even if the skies of life are dark and uncertain. This is the woman, who cannot help but become a herald of its truth. Ultimately, a herald to herself, and then harbinger to the enemy—the great liar who wants her to believe his assessment of her reality. But also, as she receives, trusts, and lives by the Word, it transfers onto the people blessed to be in her sphere of influence: her husband, her children, grandchildren, friends, coworkers, and all whom God has determined her life to impact. Such a woman is part of a larger group of women like her in the body of Christ, who make up a “mighty— unshakable, unstoppable—throng” in God’s kingdom.
“Kings and armies flee in haste."—Recently, I read an article about Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” What a powerhouse this great hymn is! I highly suggest you pause sometime today to reflect upon Luther’s message throughout this song. If you’re feeling discouraged, beat down, or hopeless, I promise you won’t be after pondering the lyrics.
Regarding the article, the focus was particularly on the last line of stanza three, which I’ve put in bold.
"And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him."
In the article (the link is below), the writer addresses the "little word" that Luther had in mind when he penned this hymn because Luther, in another writing, had identified it himself: "Devil, you lie." Simplified, it’s the proclamation of the enemy's identity as a “liar.”
Satan (including his spiritual forces in the spiritual realm) cannot withstand it when we are calling him out to be the great liar that he is. When we proclaim and act upon the truth of the Word, established by the Creator, and giver of all truth, the enemy—that diabolical father of deception—must flee because he's been exposed, authoritatively called out. As we "submit to God" (by submitting to His truth), we're resisting the devil, and when we do this, "he will flee" (James 4:7). I love how the English Standard Version translates Psalm 68:12: “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!” When I read this, I hear such an exuberant energy in the repetition, and I hear the second statement declared even louder than the first. Yes, when the enemy of God's faith-driven daughter hears and sees the proclamation of God's truth, revealing him as the 100 percent-through-and-through liar that he is, what ammunition is left?
“The women at home divide the plunder.” What is "plunder"? That’s the spoils of life's spiritual battles. It's what is taken from the enemy, as he tries to take from you and as he tries to take from me. It’s the showcase of our great Redeemer’s great work in which He takes what the enemy intends for harm and, from it, brings good that reflects His glory. It’s the truth of Romans 8:28 and the story of Joseph. It’s the treasures gained from the hard parts of our earthly journey that we’re meant to gift others to assist in theirs.
A couple of years ago, I wrote about plunder in another blog. I'll share right here an excerpt:
It’s the comfort we provide another because we’ve been comforted by "the God of all comfort" when the fears consumed and the battle bruised.
It’s the life-giving, peace-producing encouragement we speak to one so low, so discouraged, that hope seems lost, though because of our struggles, we know, through Christ, it’s not.
It’s the lesson learned we pass along—the TRUTH brought to bear in the trenches of our warfare.
It’s the testimony we share—living evidence of God’s grace, mercy, love; provision, peace, and presence—an inspiration for another to trust in the One who can always be trusted.
It’s the service we render from the task we’ve been entrusted, ministry birthed from the pain—yes, sometimes even failures—of our earthly sojourn.
It’s the intercessions we offer, entering God’s presence on behalf of a weary, wounded fellow soldier because our battles have taught us the undeniable power that’s unleashed through prayer.
It’s the praise and worship we bring—praise that’s become greater and worship that’s become truer, unleashed from the heart of one that’s gone toe to toe with the enemy and has experienced God’s preserving presence and saving power.
It’s the ULTIMATE GOOD emerging from the harm the enemy intended, evidenced in the life of David and countless other God-followers throughout Scripture—culminating in the great salvation story of Jesus Christ.
So, yes, dear sister, “The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng; Kings and armies flee in haste; the women at home divide the plunder.” As women categorized as legitimate daughters of a heavenly kingdom, we cannot help but proclaim, "Amen!" to this. And if I ended this blog right here, I think you would agree with me, concerning this verse: “Now, that’s some good stuff right there!” To use an expression I've heard before: "That’ll preach!"
But the more I considered these two gems from Psalm 68, I knew there was something greater the Father wanted to show me, a deeper place the Spirit wanted me to go. . . to the place of worship.
To Be Continued. . .
Love you, Sherry! What a precious nugget of truth! You’re so talented at mining out golden nuggets or gems from God’s treasure store. Yes, when we go through trials it’s for us to be able to minister later to someone in a similar situation. God provides. He knows all. How precious are these words to me me today!
Sherry, this was a powerful reminder that despite all that is hard in the world and in our own lives, there IS a King who rules over all of it. He WILL prevail. And because of that, and because we belong to Him, no matter what happens to us here, the One who conquered death, sin and the grave will raise us up as well. His kingdom and His people will prevail.