Read Psalm
68-69 & Romans
3
To discover:
As you read consider how
these psalms look to the life to come.
To ponder:
Psalm 68 prays God
would scatter his enemies like wind-blown smoke or melted wax, causing the
righteous to rejoice. It then calls people to praise God for his readiness to
care for the needy and for captives. Riding on the clouds may imply this
readiness, like a king riding his chariot to the rescue. (68v1-6). This is
exemplified by a recounting of how God led Israel from Sinai to the bountiful
land he had prepared for them (68v7-10), and how their victory over the
Canaanite kings was proclaimed and enjoyed (68v11-14). Mount Zion (Jerusalem)
is then portrayed as the envy of the mighty mountains in Bashan not because it
is bigger (it is small), but because it is the place the LORD came to dwell as
king in his sanctuary, having conquered with his many thousands of chariots –
whether this refers to his angelic army or that of Israel (68v15-18). Paul
relates this image of God’s enthronement to Christ being enthroned in heaven
(Eph 4v8).
In the light of these great acts,
God is praised as Saviour and sustainer, and David affirms how God will give Israel
victory over her enemies (68v19-23). A procession is then pictured of God as
king coming into his sanctuary. This may be the occasion of the psalm being
sung, as the ark returned from battle (68v24-27). The psalm then calls on God
to act in power as he had done previously (ie. as recounted in 68v1-14), and
warfaring nations are pictured rebuked, humbled, bringing tribute and
submitting to God (68v28-31). Although this was seen in part during the reign
of Solomon in particular, it is only fully fulfilled in the reign of the Prince
of Peace over a kingdom comprising people of all nations who have come to place
their allegiance in him. So the psalm calls all kingdoms to praise God, and
proclaim his power, pictured in the sky and thunder (68v32-34). And it ends,
affirming how “awesome” God is, dwelling as he does in the sanctuary of the
tabernacle, and who gives power and strength to his people (68v35) to do battle
(see 68v21-23). It therefore encourages us that if we put on the armour of God,
in his strength we are well able to stand against the Devils’ schemes (Eph
6v10-20).
Psalm 69 is initially less
triumphalistic. David is seeking salvation, describing himself as almost
drowning in his troubles, and hoarse from calling for God’s help, to no avail
(69v1-3). His enemies are many, and it seems God may have allowed them to
oppose him in punishment for some sin (69v4-5). But David’s heart is now right.
He is concerned the righteous are not disgraced or shamed by the treatment he
is receiving because of his love of God. He has been alienated from his own
family because of his zeal for the tabernacle – or perhaps his plans for the
temple. And he has been the focus of insults directed at God, and mocked when
he has formally mourned – perhaps over his sin. Patterning David, Christ was at
times ostracised by his family, and certainly opposed because of his commitment
to his Father and zeal for the temple (see Jn 2v17). But every Christian who
has been mocked for their faith can empathize.
David prays for God in his mercy and
love to quickly save him, knowing the scorn he has faced (69v13-21). His
description of being given gall in his food and vinegar to drink metaphorically
describes how people are meeting his needs with bitterness. But this
description was fulfilled literally in Jesus (Matt 28v33-34). David follows
this with a prayer that God would pour out his wrath on his enemies in such a
way that impacts the provision they receive, their health and their descendents
(69v22-25). He even prays that they would be blotted out of the book of life –
ie. the record of those who are acceptable to God (69v32-25). We should note
this stems from a concern for justice (69v26-27), and that Christ will execute
just such wrath on people. What he adds however, is a desire that God stall his
justice so that such people might find mercy. And so he is able to pray “Father
forgive them” when drowning under his great trial.
As is now familiar, David goes on to
pray again for salvation, but also display his confidence that he will have it
by saying how he will praise God, which will please him more than offerings.
And this will make the poor glad in the sense that David’s deliverance will
prove that God hears the needy (69v28-33). He therefore ends calling all earth
and heaven to praise God because he will save Zion ,
rebuild Judah
and have those who love him inherit it with their children (69v34-36). David
therefore looks to the day when God’s kingdom will comprise only those whose
names are in the book of life, and they will inhabit a renewed land (Rev
21-22). Indeed, God’s action for David, proves that he will grant just this to
all who are righteous.
Thinking
further:
None
today.
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