Every battle was a lesson; in each there was something to be learned.”
–Louis L’Amour (Hondo)
“Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.”
“Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.”
–Psalm 24:8 (NKJV)
————————————
This portion of Psalm 68 continues to speak of victory and can be seen as a pretty harsh Psalm. We should never forget that we are children of God and He is there to protect us and to defend us. Since tomorrow is Pearl Harbor Day, this Psalm fits right in with that day and the bloody war that followed. Read verses 20-23 with that terrible conflict in mind. Yes, it was the blood of many who brought about the victory, but remember God was working behind the scenes just as He has always done with Israel and with all who are His chosen.
15 — A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan.
16 — Why do you fume with envy, you mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain which God desires to dwell in; yes, the LORD will dwell in it forever.
17 — The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of thousands; the LORD is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place.
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.
19 — Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah.
20 — Our God is the God of salvation; and to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death.
21 — But God will wound the head of His enemies, the hairy scalp of the one who still goes goes on in his trespasses.
22 — The Lord said, “I will bring back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 — That your foot may crush them in blood, and the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”
24 — They have seen Your procession, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25 — The singers went before the players on instruments followed after; among them were the maidens playing timbrels.
26 — Bless God in the congregations, the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. (NKJV)
God doesn’t mess around when He goes to fight–to war. There are battles raging all the time, and I am not talking about places like Afghanistan, but war in the spiritual realm. War that we do not see, but nevertheless is real. We need to trust God in the midst of our storms, troubles, and battles. Within us sometimes there is a war raging for one reason or another–trust God. Often we do not understand why we are in this fight and for some it seems to be constant–trust God. I like what William Peterson says, “We can trust God to act with justice. His decisions are always right, though we may not always understand them. He decides if and when judgment will fall upon people, and we are in no place to question God’s actions. God wants peace, but apparently it was necessary at this time to rescue His people from their enemies by allowing the wicked to suffer the consequences of their ways.”
In the midst of your trial don’t forget to see the hand of the Lord working–trust Him. Too often we get so worried about our troubles, too concerned about the problem at hand that we fail to see the power of God at work. God is always working in our lives whether we realize it or not, but it is encouraging when we stop, to gather in His goodness and see His mighty power at work.
“Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next, the victor’s song;
To him that overcometh, a crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.”
–George Duffield
————————————
This portion of Psalm 68 continues to speak of victory and can be seen as a pretty harsh Psalm. We should never forget that we are children of God and He is there to protect us and to defend us. Since tomorrow is Pearl Harbor Day, this Psalm fits right in with that day and the bloody war that followed. Read verses 20-23 with that terrible conflict in mind. Yes, it was the blood of many who brought about the victory, but remember God was working behind the scenes just as He has always done with Israel and with all who are His chosen.
15 — A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan.
16 — Why do you fume with envy, you mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain which God desires to dwell in; yes, the LORD will dwell in it forever.
17 — The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of thousands; the LORD is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place.
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.
19 — Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah.
20 — Our God is the God of salvation; and to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death.
21 — But God will wound the head of His enemies, the hairy scalp of the one who still goes goes on in his trespasses.
22 — The Lord said, “I will bring back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 — That your foot may crush them in blood, and the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”
24 — They have seen Your procession, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25 — The singers went before the players on instruments followed after; among them were the maidens playing timbrels.
26 — Bless God in the congregations, the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. (NKJV)
God doesn’t mess around when He goes to fight–to war. There are battles raging all the time, and I am not talking about places like Afghanistan, but war in the spiritual realm. War that we do not see, but nevertheless is real. We need to trust God in the midst of our storms, troubles, and battles. Within us sometimes there is a war raging for one reason or another–trust God. Often we do not understand why we are in this fight and for some it seems to be constant–trust God. I like what William Peterson says, “We can trust God to act with justice. His decisions are always right, though we may not always understand them. He decides if and when judgment will fall upon people, and we are in no place to question God’s actions. God wants peace, but apparently it was necessary at this time to rescue His people from their enemies by allowing the wicked to suffer the consequences of their ways.”
In the midst of your trial don’t forget to see the hand of the Lord working–trust Him. Too often we get so worried about our troubles, too concerned about the problem at hand that we fail to see the power of God at work. God is always working in our lives whether we realize it or not, but it is encouraging when we stop, to gather in His goodness and see His mighty power at work.
“Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next, the victor’s song;
To him that overcometh, a crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.”
–George Duffield