Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 68

Who Is God?

Every Christian should be spending time in God’s Word. For one, it is God speaking to us. People say they aren’t hearing from God, they say they feel distant from him. He is right here and He speaks every day if you read His Word every day. The Psalms are a vital place to be looking if you want to find God. He is in the Psalms. Jesus is in the Psalms. What a joyful discovery it is when we find the treasure of His Word. Psalm 68 is a beautiful display of who God is as seen through the eyes of the Psalmist.

Psalm 68:1-3

God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him!  As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God!  But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!

God has risen through Jesus. Though this psalm has a historical context of Israel and what God has done for them, it also speaks in messianic tones. Jesus has risen and in the resurrection, the enemy of the Christian has been defeated.

Psalm 68:4-6
 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!  Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.  God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

Who is God? He is the Father of the fatherless and the protector of widows. Through Christ and the cross He has led those who seek Him, a way out of their prison of sin.

Psalm 68:17
The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.

Who is God? The Bible calls God the “Lord of Hosts” some 261 times. This means He is Lord over an army. And this psalms reminds us that God’s chariots are thousands upon thousands. God cannot be defeated.

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.

Who is God? He is the God of salvation. He will deliver us from death.

Psalm 68:21
But God will strike the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.

Who is God? He is the God of justice. To those who remain in their rebellion against Him, will come judgment.

Psalm 68:28-31
Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us. Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you.  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.  Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.

Who is God? He is the God who tramples the enemies of His people. The psalmist lifts up a prayer for God to trample the enemies that seek to devour Israel and God did and still does. The Church is under attack this very day. We, too, must pray for God’s protection as the church.

Psalm 68:32-34
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.

Who is God? He is the God whose power is in the skies. Let us praise and worship our God, whose power is in the skies.

Psalm 68:35
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!

Who is God? He is the one who gives power and strength to His people.

Blessed be God! How awesome is He.