ASCRIBE YE STRENGTH UNTO GOD

PSALM 68

SCRIPTURE READING

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INTRODUCTION

Wherewith cometh your strength for every spiritual victory in life's journey? The psalmist David attributed and credited all his strength to come from his God, “יָהּ” (v 4 ), the covenant God of Israel, the short form of “יְהוָה”, the covenant name of the God of Israel, our God (v 16 ,26 ). The emphasis in this psalm is God's ability to help His people. He is called “Almighty” (v 14 ) and “King” (v 24 ), as all power is ascribed to Him. And therefore, he cannot but gratefully acknowledge in thanksgiving by blessing His LORD in private devotion and in public acknowledgement in the congregation of God's people (v 19 ,26 ,35 ).

Notice also that God is addressed 7 times as “Lord” “אֲדֹנָי” “adonay” (v 11 ,17 ,19 ,20 ,22 ,26 ,32 ), six times it is with the root word “אָדוֹן” which means “Master” except in v 26 it is also “יְהוָה”. What is the significance? If we trace the progression, we notice (1) the Lord gave the word (v 11 ) that is effectual in destroying His enemies, (2) the Lord has myriad of angels at His behest to protect His people (v 17 ), (3) the Lord be thank for blessing His children (v 19 ), (4) the Lord has the power over death (v 20 ), (5) the Lord causes His people to triumph over their enemies (v 22 ), (6) the Lord is the fountain of Israel's blessing (v 26 ), (7) the Lord is therefore worthy of praise (v 32 ). I believe the message is that our Lord is a worthy Master to follow. He is not a taskmaster like Pharaoh but He is kind, good and loving, a protector and the source of our blessings. One of the hallmarks of a servant to his Master is obedience. It reminds us of the medley of two choruses

I will Follow Where He Leadeth, I will pasture where He feedeth, I will follow all the way Lord, I will follow Jesus every day.

Follow, follow, I will follow Jesus, anywhere, everywhere, I will follow Him, follow, follow, I will follow Jesus, everywhere He leadeth I will follow on.

The one use of “יְהוָה” translated “Lord” instead of the usual “LORD” by the King James translators perhaps alluded to emphasize God’s suzerainty covenant in choosing His people, “the righteous” (v 3 ). It is all of God and none of His people’s merit or worthiness – the God of our salvation (v 19 ). Pause therefore and consider this truth. Were they better? No, they were sinners through and through, yet God saved and bless them. What privilege! Therefore, the rightful response in gratitude is obedience to follow all that our Master bids us to do.

He does not despise our lowly status in society. He is the father of the fatherless, judge of the widows, the Creator of the Christian home for once lonely hearts and bestow goodness to the poor (v 5-6 ,10 ).

Application

We are to reject anything that will breed the oppression of others. This is one of the most difficult and sensitive issues of today's Christians to face, face it we must. In our lust for wealth for wealth means poverty for others? (Richard Foster, The Outward Expression of Simplicity). This is task given to all His children - to visit the fatherless, plead for the widow, establish the lonely and help the poor. This is the Jesus way. Read the words of our Lord Jesus in Matthew 25:42-45 "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me." Apostle James confirms this when he wrote, James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

The Prophet Amos said in Amos 8:11 "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD." Our Lord Jesus said likewise, Luke 18:8 ".when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"

But God will not be witness His witness as in time of Elijah, 1 Kings 19:18 "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him." May all His people hold forth His Word for the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18 ).