Trouble is all around me, but you keep me alive. You reach out your hand to put a stop to the anger of my enemies. With your powerful right hand you save me.
Now I know that the Lord gives victory to his anointed king. He answers him from his sacred home in heaven. The power of God’s right hand gives victory to the king.
They didn’t win the land with their swords. They didn’t gain success by their own power. Your powerful right hand and your mighty arm gave them victory. You gave them success because you loved them.
All you can do is bow down in fear among the prisoners. All you can do is fall among those who have died in battle. Even then, the Lord is still angry. His hand is still raised against them.
So do not be afraid. I am with you. Do not be terrified. I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will hold you safe in my hands. I always do what is right.
So the Lord is angry with his people. He raises his hand against them and strikes them down. The mountains shake. The bodies of dead people lie in the streets like trash. Even then, the Lord is still angry. His hand is still raised against them.
I will not find fault with my people forever. I will not always be angry with them. If I were, I would cause their spirits to grow weak. The people I created would faint away.
Arameans from the east have opened their mouths and swallowed up Israel. So have Philistines from the west. Even then, the Lord is still angry. His hand is still raised against them.
The Lord will not be pleased with the young men. He won’t take pity on widows and on children whose fathers have died. All of them are ungodly and evil. They say foolish things with their mouths. Even then, the Lord is still angry. His hand is still raised against them.
That’s what Manasseh’s people will do to Ephraim. And that’s what Ephraim’s people will do to Manasseh. Together they will turn against Judah. Even then, the Lord is still angry. His hand is still raised against them.
“Babylon, I am against you. Your kingdom is like a destroying mountain. You have destroyed the whole earth,” announces the Lord. “I will reach out my hand against you. I will roll you off the cliffs. I will make you like a mountain that has been burned up.
Jesus has been given a place of honor at the right hand of God. He has received the Holy Spirit from the Father. This is what God had promised. It is Jesus who has poured out what you now see and hear.