Praising God for His Goodness to His People

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 68

 

Psalm 68:35

O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places.
The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people.

Blessed be God!

(NKJV)

 

Psalm 68:35, along with Nehemiah 8:10 and Philippians 4:13, reminds us that our source of strength is the Lord. However, we are human and when in the middle of a struggle, can forget these biblical truths, leading to stress, worry, and even despair. Psalm 68 is a song written by David, reminding us of the glory of God in His goodness to His people and giving us a glimpse into David's heart.

 

This psalm of David offers his seeing the glory of God in His goodness to Israel. It begins with David asking God to arise. For His enemies to be scattered with those hating God fleeing from His presence (Psalm 68:1). This scattering of God’s enemies will be like smoke driven away by the wind or like wax melting in a fire, but the righteous will be glad and rejoice (Psalm 68:2-3). The righteous are to sing praises to God with rejoicing to God, a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows in his holy habitation (Psalm 68:4-5). God sets the solitary in families, leading those in bondage into prosperity, but the rebellious remain in a dry land (Psalm 68:6). When God went out before His people in the wilderness, the earth shook, the heavens dropped rain, and Mount Sinai was moved (Psalm 68:7-8). God’s goodness sent plentiful rain with confirmation of His inheritance to the weary, and provision for the poor with the congregation dwelling in His goodness (Psalm 68:9-10).

 

When the Lord gave the word, a great company proclaimed it with the kings of armies fleeing and those remaining at home dividing the spoils (Psalm 68:11-12). Even though the people lie down among the sheepfolds, they will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver and gold (Psalm 68:13). When the almighty scattered kings in the land, it became white as snow (Psalm 68:14). The mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan, with other mountains envious because the mountain of Bashan is where God dwells (Psalm 68:15-16). The chariots of God are twenty thousand with the Lord among them as He was at Sanai (Psalm 68:17). The Lord has ascended on high, led captivity captive, and received gifts among men, even from the rebellious, so that God may dwell in the Holy Place (Psalm 68:18).

 

The Lord loads His people with benefits and is the God of our salvation, escaping from death (Psalm 68:19-20). However, God will wound the head of His enemies, bringing His enemies back from Bashan and the depths of the sea so that His people may crush them with blood (Psalm 68:21-23). God’s enemies have seen the procession into the sanctuary, with singers and players on instruments following after (Psalm 68:24-25). They bless God in the congregations and the Lord from the fountains of Israel (Psalm 68:26). Benjamin is their leader along with the princes of Judah, Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali (Psalm 68:27).

 

God has commanded the strength of Israel, with David asking God to strengthen what He has done for them, with kings bringing presents to the Lord because of the temple in Jerusalem (Psalm 68:28-29). David asks the Lord to rebuke the beasts of the reed along with the herds of bulls with the calves of the people until everyone submits with pieces of silver, scattering those delighting in war (Psalm 68:30). Envoys will come out of Egypt with Ethiopia stretching her hands to God (Psalm 68:31).

 

David asks the kingdoms of the earth to sing to God, singing praises to the Lord, the one who rides on the heaven of heavens, sending out His mighty voice (Psalm 68:32-33). David asks the people to ascribe strength to God, whose excellence is over Israel with His strength in the clouds (Psalm 68:34). God is more awesome than His holy places and the God who gives strength and power to His people, blessed be God (Psalm 68:35).

 

Under David’s leadership, Israel had many enemies and troubles. While we do not know the specific incident that led to this psalm, it could be a song of praise to God for His goodness to Israel amid their many troubles. Reference is made in the psalm to the mountain of Bashan (Psalm 68:15, 22). It is believed this is a reference to Mount Hermon or the rugged volcanic peaks of the Golan Heights. Its biblical symbolism is abundant prosperity and power. In Psalm 68:18, we also see a messianic prophecy of Jesus ascending on high (Acts 1:9-11), and leading captivity captive (Ephesians 4:7-10). It is easy to picture this Psalm being sung by the congregation during times of struggle.

 

Like David, who wrote this psalm, we live in a world full of trouble. We can dwell on our troubles and become depressed, bitter, or even live in despair, or we can, like David, offer praise to God for his goodness to us. While scripture contains many reasons why the Church should offer praise to God, this psalm is one that we can refer to when we may become depressed, bitter, or even have feelings of despair. We can also find comfort in knowing that Jesus is returning to take His Church out of this troubled world (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) and is coming back to establish His kingdom on this earth (Revelation 19:11-21).

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to accept God’s gift of salvation, believing in faith that Jesus died to atone for your sins, I encourage you to do so and escape feeling depressed or in despair by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9). I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

If you meant what you just prayed, know God has forgiven all your sins and that you now have a relationship with God and are a child of God (Romans 8:16). Like any relationship, it grows as we get to know each other. While God already knows all about us, we must study the Bible, the word of God, to learn more about Him. If you just prayed, I encourage you to find a Church that teaches the truth of the Bible so you can learn more about the Lord. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.