Arise

“You will arise and have compassion on Zion…” – Psalm 102:13 (NIV)

‘Anthropomorphism’ is the attribution of human characteristics, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities.

It is a common literary device used in the Bible in reference to God.

While God is understood to be non-physical and beyond human comprehension, the Bible often uses human-like qualities or attributes or traits to help us relate to Him and understand His actions.

For example, God is severally described as having eyes, ears, hands, etc.

These descriptions help us understand that God is aware, attentive, active, and present.

Of course, these anthropomorphic descriptions are not meant to be taken literally.

They are used to help us understand God within the limits of human language and understanding.

In our meditation today, the psalmist says God would “arise.”

This anthropomorphic description signifies God’s determination to be actively involved in human affairs – His coming forth to intervene in the affairs of His people in a powerful and decisive way.

In this context, God’s ‘arising’ is a military term that denotes the action of moving from a resting or inactive position to a standing position and bracing oneself for a fight or to a position of preeminence or power (see Jeremiah 6:4; Micah 3:5).

In biblical poetry, it also denotes the action of the bright sun ‘coming out’ out of the horizon to dispel the darkness and coldness of the night and to bring light and warmth.

So, when attributed to God, ‘arise’ conveys God’s power to rescue His loved ones when He finally decides to take action.

In Psalm 3:7, David prayed: “Arise, O Lord; save me, my God; for you strike all my enemies on the cheekbone; you break the teeth of the wicked.”

Earlier in Psalm 7:6, he prayed: “Arise, O Lord, in your anger, … awake for me to the judgment that you have commanded.” (See also 17:13).

This symbolic use of the word ‘arise’ was a prayer for divine action or intervention to deal with a situation that was beyond human ability to handle.

“Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered,” says Psalm 68:1.

Psalm 68 commemorates the miraculous bringing of the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem under King David’s reign (see 2 Samuel 6).

The phrase “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered” is a powerful declaration of God’s sovereignty and His ability to take action by subduing His (our) enemies!

So, I don’t know what you’ve been going through this year – poor health, financial challenges, false accusations, land grabbers, etc.

Whatever it is that has been keeping you down, the merciful Father says He is arising to rescue and deliver you!

Like our Lord Jesus ‘arose’ from slumber in the boat and calmed the violent storm with just a command, God says He is arising for you and there is going to be “a great calm” in your life, family, business, finances, etc.

No matter how you long you’ve waited, the LORD, whose Name is Jehovah El Shaddai, is arising for you so that very one of your adversaries will be scattered!

Receive that word in the Name of Jesus, Amen!

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