Jesus in the Psalms: Triumph

As we continue to work through our series, finding Jesus in the Old Testament, I have in mind to look to just one Psalm… a slightly shorter message in light of the time we have already taken and the time we will take in our business meeting that will follow the service.

We are wrapping up a bit of a miniseries within our series; this is the fourth message from the Psalms… a Psalm of Triumph.

But before we go to the Psalm, let’s start with a New Testament passage. In Ephesians four, we find the Apostle Paul teaching the Church in Ephesus.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” j 1

Paul speaks of the calling received by the Christians in Ephesus… and by extension, the calling all who follow Jesus receive. This is the calling all of us who believe in Jesus receive. It is a calling marked by love, patience, gentleness, and humility. It is a calling that results in peace and hope. And it is undergirded by the Scripture Paul quotes in verse 8; clearly speaking of Jesus Christ, Paul says “that is why it says: When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”

1 The New International Version. (2011). (Eph 4:1–8). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

As you might expect, that Scripture is found in the Psalms. It is Psalm 68:18.

Psalm 68 is a song of triumph. When King David wrote it, he must have been thinking of his own victories, and his triumphal returns to the capitol city as victor. There is little doubt that the song was sung in the decades and centuries later, either in celebration of new victories or in remembrance of past victories.

But the Psalm is clearly about more than the victories of David and his descendants; it is also about David’s special descendant, the Messiah who would triumph in the end and forever.

The Psalm starts with a kind of ascent: 1 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;

may his foes flee before him. 2 May you blow them away like smoke—

as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.

3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. 2

These opening words were commonly used in preparation for battle. Our English translations could give us the wrong idea with a word like may… we could think that this is something close to might or maybe. A more straightforward translation from a reliable scholar reads like this:

“God will arise, His enemies shall be scattered!”

While this certainly includes a sort of general and even figurative rising, that God would arise to the challenge or arise to the throne of our hearts… this was sung at a moment with a literal meaning.

2 The New International Version. (2011). (Ps 68:1–3). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

In the days of King David, and all of those years between Moses and David before there was a Temple, the earthly presence of God inhabited the Tabernacle (an elaborate, portable tent) and the presence of God was focused on the Ark of the Covenant. When the People of God would go to battle, the Levites would literally lift the Ark of the Covenant onto their shoulders atop of poles. The singers would sing “God will arise! His enemies shall be scattered!” And the people would see the Ark of the Covenant rising, hoisted upon the shoulders of the Levites charged with this special, holy work.

When the People of God were obediently following God’s directions, there was great confidence that enemies would be scattered. Wicked enemies stood no chance before God, like little wax figures before the scorching heat of a raging inferno. Let God arise!

The first half of the Psalm reflects on God’s mighty power displayed among God’s people through the ages. The second half, starting with verse 18, takes a turn to the prophetic and Messianic. It turns from the sort of triumph that David and his mere human descendants could enjoy, to the triumph only God and His Messiah could accomplish.

The second half with verse 18 starts with ascension, just like the first half did with the first verse.

Reflecting on Jesus, and even the way Paul interpreted Psalm 68 prophetically… what scene comes to mind?

Could it be around the birth of Jesus, when the Babe of Bethlehem was lifted toward Heaven and dedicated to God?

Is this the picture we should have in mind when we think of Jesus ascending, when Jesus arose? Let God arise!

Or is the picture of Jesus, arising to His place on the Cross?

We who believe know that the Cross was a place of triumph. What the corrupt religious leaders of the day, and the ruthless Roman leaders, meant as a sure defeat… was actually a moment of great triumph as the Son of God gave His life as ransom for all who believe. Let God arise!

Or is the empty tomb the image that comes to mind, when Jesus rose from the dead?

Death was swallowed up in victory with the Resurrection of Jesus. Because He rose, we who believe will rise like Him. Let God arise!

Or is the Ascension of Jesus the most appropriate image? After walking among His followers for 40 days, Jesus gathered His Disciples, gave them one last charge, and then Ascended into Heaven.

Angels stood by explaining that one day Jesus would come back in the same way. Until then, the work of Jesus was (and is) accomplished primarily through the hands of His followers, His Body, the Church. Let God arise!

It turns out that this is the image most closely aligned with the meaning of Psalm 68:18.

The specific Hebrew word in Psalm 68:18, translated on high, never means anything less than Heaven. This is a clear and specific prophecy that God’s Messiah would ascend into Heaven; that is precisely how the Apostle Paul (an accomplished scholar of the Jewish Scripture) understood the text.

Jesus ascended into Heaven, claiming many captives. When He returns, He will gather the captives to Himself, those redeemed through His Body and Blood, believers who give ourselves to Him. Until then, we are His captives according to His Promise. Like those eleven Apostles who witnessed His Ascension, we who believe and follow are charged with His work until His Promised Return.

We see that Jesus is the Promised Messiah, the captives are all who believe… but what of the gifts mentioned here? Let’s look back to Ephesians 4 for the answer. After quoting Psalm 68:18, hear what the Apostle Paul teaches: 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 3

As each part does its work. The gifts are that which equip the Body of Christ, His people, for works of service. The gifts are those called to serve in special ways, equippers like pastors and teachers and all those who serve, equip, and lead.

3 The New International Version. (2011). (Eph 4:11–16). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Notice that none are left out. It isn’t just a special, called few who do the work for, or even on behalf of, the whole. All are called to good work, works of service, leading to mature fullness.

This is the Truth of what the Apostle teaches in Ephesians, the Truth spoken and demonstrated by Jesus when He walked the Earth, and the Truth prophesied 1,ooo years before that by King David in Psalm 68. Let God arise!

Allow me to ask the question again: So What? And allow me to make a practical application.

There will be some big news on Tuesday night. I hope there is a clear election, and that this all won’t be painfully dragged out any longer. Don’t we deserve some relief?

I expect that whatever the outcome, there will be disappointment that may even rise to the level of alarm or panic for many. Historians seem to be divided on this, but it sure seems to me that we have the most significant and stark divisions between camps; whoever we might have voted for, our positions against the other candidate in most cases outweigh our support for the one that got our vote. Pollsters tell us that a majority of us voted more out of opposition to the other than out of enthusiastic support for the one we picked. It is really an odd circumstance… one that could lead to despair or even anger for the losers; some fear that there could even be riots and violence.

While I don’t believe we have any violent rioters in the crowd today… you might find yourself discouraged or even despondent. Let me make a suggestion: whatever the outcome, read Psalm 68 in the context of our election. Let it remind us that whatever the outcome of our elections, God is in control. He is triumphant. We are His and He will see us through in the end. Hear the Word of the Lord:

1 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.

2 May you blow them away like smoke— as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.

3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.

4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds x; rejoice before him—his name is the LORD.

5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

6 God sets the lonely in families, d he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

7 When you, God, went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, h

8 the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.

9 You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.

10 Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.

11 The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:

12 “Kings and armies flee in haste; the women at home divide the plunder.

13 Even while you sleep among the sheep pens, s the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold.”

14 When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.

15 Mount Bashan, majestic mountain, Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,

16 why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the LORD himself will dwell forever?

17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands

and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.

18 When you ascended on high, you took many captives; you received gifts from people,

even from the rebellious— that you, LORD God, might dwell there.

19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

20 Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.

21 Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.

22 The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea,

23 that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share.”

24 Your procession, God, has come into view, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.

25 In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the young women playing the timbrels.

26 Praise God in the great congregation; praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel.

27 There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah’s princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.

28 Summon your power, God; show us your strength, our God, as you have done before.

29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts.

30 Rebuke the beast among the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations.

Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.

31 Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush h will submit herself to God.

32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord,

33 to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,

who thunders with mighty voice. 34 Proclaim the power of God,

whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the heavens.

35 You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God! 4

Let God arise!

And more than that, let us remember this important instruction from Scripture:

Ours is not to merely hunker down and hold on; it is ours to triumph.

Jesus ascended to Heaven, empowering us and equipping us. We have the Holy Spirit’s power and the gifts of one another to triumph.

With Jesus leading us as Our Victor, we have vital work to accomplish until He returns. We are here to triumph. In spite of lost battles, in spite of our crumbling culture, in spite of what the government leaves undone and in spite of where the government intrudes… it is ours to triumph. So do not be discouraged or dismayed, whatever the news reports say.

4 The New International Version. (2011). (Ps 68:1–35). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.