Day 406: Psalm 68- Gifted By Grace

God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him! 2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God! 3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!
 
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him! 5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 6 God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. 7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah

8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. 9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; 10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy. 11 The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host: 12 “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!” The women at home divide the spoil— 13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds— the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with shimmering gold.

14 When the Almighty scatters kings there, let snow fall on Zalmon. 15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan! 16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, yes, where the Lord will dwell forever? 17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary. 18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.1 9 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah

20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death. 21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways. 22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, 23 that you may strike your feet in their blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.” 24 Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary--
25 the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines:


26 “Bless God in the great congregation, the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!” 27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali. 28 Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us. 29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you. 30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war
 
 31 Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.
32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah 33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. 34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies.
 
35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
 
Meditation
If you were a New Testament writer which verses from Psalm 68 would you incorporate? Here are a few I would choose (of MANY great options):

• God will rise and His enemies will be scattered!
• The righteous are glad before God!
• God is Father to the fatherless and protector of widows, taking the lonely and setting them into homes!
• God is our salvation and to the Lord belong deliverance from death!
• Awesome is God who gives power and strength to His people!

 
The Church has historically celebrated Psalm 68 at Pentecost because it commemorates the victory of God and the gifts of grace for His people. Paul uses 68:18 to explain, “The grace given to (believers) according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Ephesians 4:7-12).
 
God defeated death and has ascended into Heaven, giving gifts to the Church to apply His victory to all of life. God has ordained different roles and provides practical gifts to every believer to build up Christ’s Body. God gives the gift of His word and work that we may develop in His grace and grow through truth and love.
 
The grace of God awakens us to the victory of God through which we have gifts from God to be used for growing the glory of God in and through the Church. Responding to God’s grace we must discover, develop, and deploy the gifts Christ has endowed through His Spirit, celebrating His victory in this life as we eagerly await the victory that is to come when he returns.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Which verse would you highlight from Psalm 68 if you were a NT writer?
 
-Paul uses vs 18 so that we can apply the victory of God to all of life. Do you struggle to celebrate the victory of God?
 
-How has God gifted you in position and practice? What is your highest and best use of these gifts to further His glory?
 
Key Verse
18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.