BROADCASTS.com

"May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him... Summon your power, God; show us your strength, our God, as you have done before" (Psalm 68:1,28).

In the Narnia Chronicles, C.S. Lewis uses the phrase, "Aslan is on the move". It instills hope in those who still believe in him. It is a tonic whispered among those outnumbered few who fight against those determined to crush the goodness out of Narnia.

I think Lewis may have been riffing on Psalm 68 which can be summed up with the phrase, "God is on the move." The entire biblical story could also be summed up with this phrase.

He speaks creation into existence. He walks in the Garden with Adam and Eve. He puts all of life into an ark and sends the floods in judgment. He calls Abraham by name and rains plagues in Egypt. At His command the Red Sea splits and Sinai thunders with the majesty of His presence. He leads His armies in battle and shatters His enemies. He gives His people a land and carts them away from it in chains when they persist in crushing all goodness.

In centuries past, theologians sought to tame God into logical constructs. It was believed that we could predict how God would behave. Some thought that God could be known in such a way that he would no longer surprise us.

But now in our chaotic age we are less sure of ourselves. Our universe is dynamic: light is both particle and wave and the nature and movement of subatomic particles is not fully understood. In such a cosmos, the exploding energy of the God of the Bible is more acceptable.

Moreover, despite the revelation of the church\u2019s deep sinfulness, God continues to uphold and even renew his church. In this, we see the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit made visible, and God looks more and more like the living God of Psalm 68. Like Aslan, He may not be safe, but he is good, and he is on the move.

In our psalm, God is remembered for guiding Israel through the wilderness and defeating opposing kings. He shakes Sinai and has an army of chariots who do His bidding. He also speaks oracles, wounds His enemies, and orders a procession into His temple. He "rides on the heaven of heavens\u201d (33) and is "more awesome than His holy places (35)."

It's a psalm that portrays God on the move, conquering his enemies and delivering His people. It\u2019s a source of encouragement for all of us who get weary in the battle of the Christian life. The battle belongs to the Lord. It anticipates Easter. It's a riotous collage of images depicting God crushing all evil and lifting all that is good.

But it is also a prayer; a powerful plea that God will arise. That He will do what He has done in the past. It's a prayer taking us back to creation and to the empty tomb, as it also anticipates Christ\u2019s final victory as depicted in Revelation 19:10-14, \u201cI saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.\u201d

No matter what struggles you may encounter, remember, God is on the move. This psalm offers us a way to pray with hope amid the evil chaos of this world. We don't pray to a small god easily understood, but to a strong God, who will and can do the unexpected. We pray to the one who will make all things new.