I don’t know about everyone else but I need some good news.
The world around us is falling apart. ISIS wants to kill us. Ebola might. The
mayor of Houston is on the attack against pastors who preach the truth of
scripture as it pertains to homosexuality. In my own city murders and shootings
continue to occur at horrible rates. Racial divide is growing over the Michael
Brown shooting. Cancer is attacking our bodies. Even in the church we are at
odds with each other. I could go on all day. I need some good news. Psalm 68
brings good news.
Psalm 68:1-2
Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, And let those 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 before God.
Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, And let those 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 before God.
News flash: Jesus is coming back. When He does He shall
drive away the enemies of our faith. So let us rejoice in that.
Psalm 68:3-4
But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; Yes, let them rejoice with gladness. Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts, Whose name is the LORD, and exult before Him.
But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; Yes, let them rejoice with gladness. Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts, Whose name is the LORD, and exult before Him.
I know so many lonely people. Widows, orphans, children
being raised without fathers, divorced people afraid of relationships, and
single Christians trying to find that right person. Even those imprisoned, some
simply to their own addictive behavior and to others who sit in a cell
somewhere, I have good news.
Psalm 68:5-6
A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
Don’t dwell in a parched land. Turn to Jesus. When we read
the Old Testament stories of Israel we can see how often God delivered His
people even though they were just like us, sin ridden stiff necked people.
Psalm 68:7-10
O God, when You went forth before Your people, When You marched through the wilderness, Selah. The earth quaked; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel. You shed abroad a plentiful rain, O God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched. Your creatures settled in it; You provided in Your goodness for the poor, O God.
O God, when You went forth before Your people, When You marched through the wilderness, Selah. The earth quaked; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel. You shed abroad a plentiful rain, O God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched. Your creatures settled in it; You provided in Your goodness for the poor, O God.
God so often has blessed me even when I was not being
obedient. Like He has a plan for Israel in the end, God always keeps a remnant,
He will sustain us even when we slip. If you are His then even if you’re
currently a prodigal, He still will receive you back.
Good news flash: God gave us His Word. We call it the Bible.
See what happens when we preach it.
Psalm 68:11
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
When the enemy attacks we must speak out His Word. Good
news.
Psalm 68:12-13
"The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!" The women at home divide the spoil— though you men lie among the sheepfolds— the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with shimmering gold.
"The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!" The women at home divide the spoil— though you men lie among the sheepfolds— the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with shimmering gold.
Good News! There is power in the Word of God. Declare it
loudly. Speak it out to others and to yourselves.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Let the Word of God live in you. By it we shall overcome the
evil one.
1 John 2:12-14
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
Is bad news about to overcome you today? Are you afraid?
Good news: Jesus is alive; He has ascended and is the Lord of Hosts. He has a
might army.
Psalm 68:17-18
The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary. 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.
The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary. 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.
Good news everyone. You need not fear Ebola. Jesus has
overcome death and the worst thing Ebola could do is send you home to the Lord.
You need not fear ISIS. The worst they could do is send you home to the Lord.
Until something kills us we have two choices. We could sit around and worry. Or
we could preach the Word of God to ourselves and to each other. We can preach
it to those who seek to kill us.
I have good news today. Today is the day of salvation.
Psalm 68:19-20
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
Good news: It’s not our job to take care of the wicked; it’s
to preach the Word.
Psalm 68:21-23
But God will strike the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways. The Lord said, "I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, that you may strike your feet in their blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe."
But God will strike the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways. The Lord said, "I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, that you may strike your feet in their blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe."
Our job is to preach the Word and to celebrate God in praise
and worship by being in His procession. Good news, were having a parade.
Psalm 68:24-26
Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary— the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines: "Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O you who are of Israel's fountain!"
Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary— the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines: "Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O you who are of Israel's fountain!"
It’s time to sing out good news. Christians let’s drown out
the naysayers with their bad news.
Psalm 68:32-35
O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. 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!
O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. 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!
That is worth repeating.
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!
Amen.
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