PSALM 68. THE GOD WHO WINS BATTLES BUT DOES NOT DELIGHT IN WAR!. This is a psalm of battle cries, but if you take particular note of verse thirty you will observe that there the psalmist sings; "Rebuke the company of spearsmen, the multitude of bulls, with calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter the people that delight in war". The last part of that verse is very applicable in this our day. O God scatter the people that delight in war. However, in the middle of the verse there is a reference to each one submitting himself with a piece of silver. The piece of silver refers to the ransom money of redemption, known to every Israelite. The token piece of silver was the price for every man's soul. It was the price of redemption. There was one in particular who was sold for 30 pieces of silver, but He paid the price of our redemption with His own blood. Each person is redeemed by the price Christ paid - He laid down His life for us. In the history of mankind, war has accomplished far less than has been gained by the redemption which is offered by the Lord Jesus Christ. The history of the Church is one of triumph of good over evil. God has made war against evil, but He does not delight in war. There is only one way to perfect peace, and that is by submission to the Almighty. God's Word says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Thee." (Isaiah 26.3) There are FOUR elements in this psalm upon which victory is founded. LET GOD ARISE. This phrase is strong in the first verse. Without Him we can do nothing, so we cry, "Let God arise!", and when He does, things begin to move. The phrase is a variation of the words of Moses in Numbers 10, noting the four verbs in that quotation - ARISE; SCATTER; HATE; FLEE. Amidst the turmoil of the present world, when God arises, He will arise to set up His Kingdom. The only one who can possibly bring peace to this earth is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He will set up His Kingdom in Glory and Power. Men are loath to give up warfare. They will defy and destroy each other rather than have peace. Only when God arises will we see the victory that we long for. Every time we move before God, we see defeat. If we move with God we shall see glorious victory. We must therefore wait for Him. THE LORD GAVE THE WORD. This is the second element in this psalm. It is found in the eleventh verse. "The Lord gave the word!" This is a phrase often applied to the Gospel, but the issue may be simpler than that. It is actually a command to attack. "The Lord gave the word and great were the company of those who published it". Put in its context, in the days when the psalm was written, not only did the men go into battle but the women went also. As the charge was made they moved in, shouting on top of their voices. What a fearful thing for an enemy to face, as the men rushed into the fight, the women screamed the victory. In its context the WORD God published was 'ATTACK'. It is the voice of a battle victory cry. Moses was told by God on one occasion, "Don't pray - move!" Moses would not move without God's command. O that we all were as responsive to the Lord's command, then we would sing more victory songs. FROM BASHAN - FROM THE MIDST OF THE SEA. Here is the third issue raised in verse twenty two. "The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea." What a peculiar phrase - "From the depths of the sea". There are three explanations suggested, each one of which is acceptable:- 1/ That God is reminding the people of His delivering them from Og, king of Bashan, taking them through the Red Sea. They knew from experience that He COULD deliver them. 2/ That God was assuring them that even if they had foes to face of a power like Og of Bashan, or a peril like the Red Sea, He could deliver them. Whether it was a great enemy or a great element which was in opposition to them, He could deliver them. 3/ He could search out His enemy from high mountains or deep seas. Whichever view is taken, God reassures His people that victory is certain. If it depends on His Word it will come to pass. God's Word is a better surety than anything else in the world. GOD COMMANDED STRENGTH. Here is the fourth element, and it is found in verse twenty eight. "Thy God commanded thy strength: strengthen O God that which Thou hast wrought for us." The word commanded used here denotes Authority. You have strength by God's authority. There are times when we feel excessively weak. Suddenly, there comes a touch from God, and He commands our strength, and the whole situation in our lives is changed by the Lord Himself. Actually, the word STRENGTH used here by the psalmist, refers to THE MIGHT which wins the battle and establishes the kingdom. It is that which helps us to overcome and establish the rule of God in our lives. It is sadly possible to win the war, and lose the peace. Here the psalmist clarifies the issue; "Strengthen Thou that which Thou hast wrought for us." He is referring to the victory. Victory is useless if you are not able to enjoy the fruit of it. Our victory in God is one which has been wrought for us. God has won the battle. God rose, God commanded, God said, and God strengthened. Let us live in the victory He has gained for us. Publish it! Sing it! Live it!. Copyright (c) 1996, Hedley Palmer. All rights reserved. ---------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/hpalmer/psalms: ps-068.txt .