“Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those also who hate Him flee before Him.” (Psalm 68:1 NKJV)
“I am misunderstood! I cannot bear with this person anymore!” What should a believer do in such a situation?
“I am not able to love him or her who pecks me and picks on me all the time.” What should I do?
Psalm 68 is a Psalm of comfort to the wearied soul, to the person who goes through tough times especially because of being hated by people who want to see his or her fall. At such a time and situation, the reading of this Psalm provides the reader with ample matters to thank God for -
1. The wicked will perish (68:2c), but the righteous will be glad and rejoice before God (68:3)
2. God “sets the lonely in families” (68:6). He brings loving and caring people in our life, because we belong to the family of God.
3. He goes before and along us when we go through wilderness like experiences (68:7)
4. He refreshes (68:9 NIV) and restores (68:9 NRSV) the weary
5. He provides (68:10b)
6. He “daily” bears us up and our burdens (68:19)
7. God will make the least lead (68:27)
It’s time that we stop thinking that we are in a very worse situation and to start focusing on and thanking God for all the goodness that He has shown in our life thus far and especially at this time.
Though these are very encouraging to us when we go through oppositions and misunderstandings, there is always a possibility of hating those who misunderstand us and to break the unity as a result of it. Let’s look further into the Scriptures, as to find what God’s Word says to us.
Paul on Psalm 68
Paul takes Psalm 68:18 and uses it to address the church at Ephesus in Ephesians 4:8-13.
“You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.” Psalm 68:18 (ESV)
“Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)” Ephesians 4:8-10 (ESV)
An understanding of the context of this Scripture portion would help us to know what God is expecting of us.
1. To live a life worthy of our calling (4:1)
2. To be – (4:2)
Humble (because we were lonely & He set us in families)
Gentle (because He refreshed our weariness)
Patient (because He went before us & through the wilderness)
Bearing with one another in love (because He daily bears us up)
“eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.” Ephesians 4:3-7 (ESV)
4. He expects each one of us to do our part (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Penning to the church at Ephesus
We see in the Book of Revelation where Jesus Christ sends a letter to the Ephesus church through Apostle John. A further reading of the message to the church at Ephesus would help us to understand our present condition and our need, at such a juncture.
““To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.” Revelation 2:1 (ESV)
1. God knows our works (2:2)
2. He also knows that – (2:3)
- We are enduring patiently [because He wanted us to be patient (Eph 4:2) as He went before us & through the wilderness (Ps 68:7)]
- We are bearing up for the sake of His name [because He wants us to bear with one another in love (Eph 4:2) as He bears us up daily (Ps 68:19)]
- We have not grown weary [because He expects us to be gentle (Eph 4:2) as He refreshed our weariness (Ps 68:9)]
But what’s the lack, the need?
We need to become humble and to live in unity and to do our part joyfully.
And for these to happen we need to restore the first love.
“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” Revelation 2:4 (ESV)
What’s the character of the First Love?
- It bears any burden, any difference and any disgrace
- Our hearts will be so filled with God’s love that we could love anyone
Without love we cannot live in unity and without unity God’s purpose cannot be fulfilled.
Let’s humble ourselves and allow God’s love to fill our hearts because “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NKJV)
“If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.” (1 John 4:20, 21 MSG)
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