Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
Psalm 68:4-5 NIV
Defender
Defender Alistair Johnston, one of Canada’s standout players at the 2022 World Cup, has left Montreal to join Scotland’s Glasgow Celtic. Celtic said Johnston signed a five-year contract and met up with the team when it returned from training camp in Portugal this past January. While Celtic and Montreal did not detail the transfer price, Glasgow’s Daily Record reported the deal is worth around $4.97 million, with Johnston getting 10 per cent. The 24-year-old defender/wingback from Aurora, ON, made $445,625 US with Montreal last season.
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One of the unique aspects of God’s nature is that He is holy, almighty, all-knowing, all-powerful and omnipresent. He is so far above His creation that He can appear unreachable. At the same time, He cares deeply for His creation, and in the person of Jesus Christ, He has stepped into His world to connect and care for us. King David described this apparent contradiction this way in Psalm 68:4-5: “Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds, rejoice before him – his name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” The God who rides on the clouds is the same God who is the father to the fatherless and the defender of widows. The same God who is in His holy dwelling in Glory, also takes up residence in the heart of everyone who receives Jesus Christ by faith. If you need the wisdom of a father, this God will give it freely. If you need Him to be your defender, He will come to your aid. No wonder the psalmist commands us to rejoice and sing a song of praise.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley