Today, we will finish our meditations and chats on Psalm 68. We need to remember that
this Psalm is a great celebration and praise song written by David to be sung
by the “Chief Musician” as he leads the people in worship at the temple in
Jerusalem! It is also has powerful Messianic overtones, looking forward to the
day that Jesus Christ will set up His kingdom and rule over all the kings and
peoples of the earth.
It begins with “Let God arise” and ends with “Blessed be God!” God
has risen in victory over death, hell and the grave! In a beautiful sense, God
arose from His throne in heaven and came down in the person of Jesus Christ to
live in human body to complete His awesome work of salvation for His people.
Through Christ’s life, His death and His resurrection He defeated the enemy! Hebrews
2:14-15 clearly states this: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of
flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He
might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release
those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
Psalm 68 also describes how “God arose” and came down and dwelt in the midst of the
His people, the nation of Israel, and “marched” before them as He led them out
of Egypt and through the wilderness (vv. 7-18). God not only marches before His
people, but He also dwells with them as they come together in unity and worship
Him (vv. 19-27).
This closing section of Psalm 68:28-35 definitely has prophetic overtones as it
describes the Gentile nations submitting to Jehovah, the God of Israel, and
bringing Him their worship. Isaiah also clearly prophesied of this time in Isaiah
2:2-4: “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of
the LORD'S house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be
exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall
come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the
house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His
paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD
from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people…”
I also couldn’t help but think of Revelation 19:11-16 that prophetically
describes the event when Jesus comes back to the earth at the end of the
Tribulation. “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who
sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and
makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many
crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed
with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the
armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white
horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike
the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself
treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on
His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Until the Lord reigns in Jerusalem, there can be no peace on earth (Isaiah 9:6-7;
11:1-9). God will defeat Israel's old enemy Egypt, along with her allies (see
Ezek. 29), and they will send envoys to Jerusalem with tribute. The Gentile
nations will join Israel in singing praises to the Lord and extolling His
majesty and power.
The chapter ends reminding us that we should worship God alone and be careful not
to worship the rituals, the objects, the places and the people involved in our
worship. We are not to worship the wonderful things that God has done for us. Be
thankful and praise Him for all these things, sure! But God alone is worthy of
our worship!
“O God, You are more awesome….”. “Blessed be God!” (v. 35)
Today,
worship Him!
God bless!
