A Woman Who Worships in the Wait (Part 1)

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 continue to marvel 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

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“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 that we might live accordingly.

“The women who proclaim it are a mighty throng.” The commentary in my Bible states, “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 searching 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 a triumphant victory song, even if the skies of life are dark and foreboding. Such is the woman who cannot help but become a herald of its truth. A herald to herself and, ultimately, a 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. This 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 suggest you pause sometime today to reflect upon Luther’s message throughout this song. If you’re feeling discouraged, beaten down, hopeless, or weary, I promise you won’t be after taking the lyrics to heart.

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 piece (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. We do this when we make it an ongoing habit of speaking, singing, proclaiming, and praying the truths of the Word. When we declare God's truth, and our behaviors align with our declarations, the enemy—that diabolical father of deception—must flee because he's been exposed, authoritatively called out. As we "submit to God" (by believing and 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 exuberant energy in the repetition, and I hear the second statement proclaimed even louder than the first. Yes, when the enemy of a faith-driven daughter hears and sees the Creator's impenetrable declarations, revealing him as the 100 percent-through-and-through liar that he is, what ammunition does he have 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 schemes to take from you, and as he schemes to take from me. It’s the showcase of our great Redeemer’s grand plan in which He uses what the enemy intended for harm and, from it, brings good that illuminates His glory. It’s the truth of Romans 8:28, as stated by Paul in the New Testament, and the story of Joseph from the Old Testament. It’s the treasures gained from the hard-fought battles of our earthly journey that we’re meant to share with others to assist in theirs. 

A couple of years ago, I wrote about plunder in another blog. I'll share an excerpt:

It’s the comfort we provide others because we’ve been comforted by "the God of all comfort" when fears consumed us and the battle bruised us.

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, and 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 unbearable pain, yes, sometimes even failures, of our earthly sojourn.

It’s the intercessions we offer, entering God’s presence on behalf of an oh-so 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 ashes of the enemy's evil intentions, evidenced in the lives of Joseph, and David, and many other God-followers in Scripture, culminating in the story of God's plan for humanity's redemption: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

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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, "That’s some good stuff right there." Or, to borrow a familiar expression: "That’ll preach!"

But the more I considered these two gems from Psalm 68, I realized 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. . .