Devotional 1.14 | Space for Grace | Psalm 68 | Celebration of Triumph

[Jim]

January 14th
THE PSALMS

Psalm 65-68​

Psalm 68​

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Blessed be the Lord, who daily takes our load; the Deity is our salvation.​

Psalm 68:19, Byington Translation​

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Theme: Celebration of Triumph.

Background: The Ark taken to Zion with great joy (2 Sam 6:2-18).

68:3 “But the righteous one shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!”​

Gladness, exultation, jubilation, and joyfulness! The meaning of these Hebrew words range from “cheer up” to “jump for joy” because Yahweh is our God. David danced for joy as the ark was brought into Jerusalem. When others observe our Christian life and worship, do they see a ceremony or a celebration? A funeral or a festival? Remember, as Christians, we are before a throne of grace not of judgment (Heb 4:16).

68:11 “The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host.”​

A great crowd, apparently of women, would greet the returning victorious army with song and dance, perhaps with the words in the succeeding verses. In 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 Paul likens the irresistible advance of the gospel to a Roman “triumphal procession”. We share in the joy of our Christ’s ongoing victory parade. The smell of our sin cannot out-perfume the aroma of Christ upon us. Are you a jubilant Christian?

68:19 “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden.” (NASB)​

The Targum interprets it to mean the burden of the law, "blessed be the Lord every day, he burdens us, adding precepts unto precepts.'' But on the contrary, Yahweh not only blesses us daily with grace gifts, but stoops and carries us! (Isa 46:1-5)

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God has made us so that we can never be satisfied without Him.​