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THE PRESENCE OF GOD (Psalm 68)

Praise brings you into the presence of God, and it also acknowledges the presence of God.

We have been examining a series of psalms of praise. Now, we come to Psalm 68.

Verses 1-3: “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.”

The second verse contains the key phrase, “the presence of God.” That is really what the entire psalm is about. Let me go a step further; that is what life is about. It is what we have to look forward to in eternity. There is nothing in this world like the presence of God.

There is a historical context to Psalm 68 that will give you a greater understanding of this. Most Bible teachers believe that it would be inserted just after II Samuel 6:11. That was when the Ark of the Covenant had been brought back to the house of Obededom, where it stayed for some time. That family was blessed because of God’s presence in their house. If you want God’s blessing in your home, get the presence of God there.

David had the ark brought back to Jerusalem, and he celebrated by singing and dancing with joy to the extent that some, including even his wife, mocked him because they could not understand. He knew that there was nothing more important than the presence of God, regardless of who he was, what his people thought of him, or how much material wealth he had. If he had God’s presence, he had everything he needed. The provision and protection, plus every other good thing, grew out of that.

David wrote Psalm 68 while conscious that the one thing he needed was God’s presence. It is one of the longer psalms, at 35 verses, and one could approach it from several different directions when studying it.

You can read it historically and see a synopsis of Israel’s history, from when God brought them through the wilderness to such places as Mt. Sinai. History tells us that men come and go, but the presence of God lasts beyond all else.

You can also see Jesus Christ through reading Psalm 68, which is identified as one of the Messianic psalms.

Verse 18: “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.”

That verse was also quoted in the New Testament and referred to Christ’s ascension. Eph. 4:8 says, “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”

Notice that Psalm 68:18 mentions “the rebellious also.” We should all be very thankful that the Lord gifts rebellious hearts. None of us deserve God’s blessings.

Verse 24: “They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.” This is a direct reference to the Lord Jesus Christ, complete with a capital K. David was certainly not writing about himself.

As you read Psalm 68, think about the nation of Israel. What has made that tiny spot on the world map famous? It is the presence of God.

But then, think about Jesus. You cannot come near to the presence of God apart from His Son. We come to faith in God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

I challenge you to go deeper into Psalm 68. Let it go deeper in you. It is not just about David, Israel, or Christ; it is also about you. This passage needs to get personal so that you see yourself. There are so many places here that allow you to do that.

Verses 5-6: “A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.”

Aren’t you glad God has set you free and put you in a family? You see, family was His idea. Your biological or physical family can be viewed as a gift from God, but there is something grander here. You and I have been brought into the family of God. The day you were born again, you were adopted into that family. It is so good to be a family member.

There are so many reminders throughout Psalm 68 of the goodness of God, and we have all of it because of His presence.

There are two different perspectives on the presence of God. On one side are the wicked who flee from Him in fear, and on the other side are the righteous who are drawing near and being glad.

Your attitude toward the presence of God is directly connected to your relationship with the God of that presence. If you know the Lord and love Him, if you are right with Him, you can draw near and enjoy living in His presence. If you do not know Him or have let something come between the two of you, His presence can be a frightful thing.

Let me encourage you to be certain that you are right with God today. If you are, then you can enjoy His presence in your life.

Notice how Psalm 68 ends, “Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God” (vs. 34-35).

Psalm 68 begins by bringing us into the presence of God, and it ends by showing us what comes out of the presence of God. Out of His presence, He gives us strength and power. If that is what you need today, you know where to find it.

If you need strength for whatever you must do or power for whatever you may face in the coming days, you need to get as close to God as possible.

We have learned much about praise in this string of psalms, and now we end this psalm with three wonderful words: “Blessed be God.” Bless the Lord today for His holy presence and the strength and power that only comes from Him.