Psalm 68

There are certain passages and stories of Scripture that resonate more deeply with a person than others.  The same is true for all God’s people.  (Here is a Pauline kind of sentence…) The one story that should have the greatest impact on all God’s people is the story of His redemption of rebellious, sinful, and stubborn enemies flowing from His great love, mercy and grace when He came in the flesh to die a hellish death for those very people so that He could be just with all sins and yet justify those who by faith embrace Him and thus become His to live eternally with Him in glory.  That story is the story of Scripture and is the one story that must be held dearest if a person is truly saved.

And there are numerous stories in the Bible that illustrate or illuminate that core story.  There are passages that teach about the holiness of God.  There are stories that accent the grace that sent God into a dirty, dark, and deathly world.  And there are stories about the sinfulness of men.  The Bible is rich with stories, principles, and facts that translate into wisdom for life.

One special passage to me is Psalm 68.  Here are a few reasons why:

God wins!

1-2, Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him.  As smoke is driven away, So drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

Throw a parade!

3-4, But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.  Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name Yah, And rejoice before Him.

Families are blessed!

5-6, A Father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.  God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

God moves in power.

17, The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of thousands; the Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place. 

Jesus deserves gifts!

18, You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, even from the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell there.

Give thanks!

19-20, Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah!  Our God is the God of salvation; and to God the Lord belongs escape from death.

God rocks!

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.