As you find your place in Psalm 68, I want to begin by directing your attention to verse 19. Psalm 68, verse 19. In this Psalm consisting of 35 verses, I think it can be adequately argued that verse 19 is the hinge this specific song swings upon. In our consideration of all, David says before verse 19 and after verse 19, you will find that what he declares in this one verse is the sum and substance of the psalm. Notice it with me, Psalm 68, verse 19. David says, blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation, Selah. You will notice if you have a King James version of the Bible that several of the words in this verse is italicized, which means they have been added by the translators to help the reader better understand the intent of the passage translated from the original language, but were not in fact in the original Hebrew text. So this means if we were to read verse 19 as it is given to us in the Hebrew language, it would say, blessed the Lord daily loatheth us the God of our salvation, Selah. To provide you with the subtle differences of the versions, the King James says, blessed be the Lord who daily loatheth us with benefits, The New American Standard Version of the Bible says, blessed be the Lord who daily bears our burdens. And then the English Standard Version of the Bible says, blessed be the Lord who daily bears us up. While it may be difficult to know in this one verse what was originally implied by David when he wrote this psalm, in our examination of what is said in verses 1 through 18 and then verses 20 to 35, we will find that all three truths from all three of these translations can be clearly realized in the entirety of the psalm. God is to be blessed because He daily loads His people with spiritual benefits, spiritual blessings, abundant grace, undeserved mercies. God is to be blessed because He daily bears the burdens of His people. Though burdens are sometimes placed upon the shoulders of Christians, so to speak, it is God who gives us the needed grace to endure our trials and troubles. And then God is to be blessed because He daily bears His people up, giving them strength when they are weak, and keeping them from drowning in the raging waters of this world, even when they become doubtful and distracted like Peter. This is the message of the psalmist. The psalmist is saying that God is a God who does not leave or forsake His own. God is a God who provides a place of refuge in times of trouble. God is a God who saves, who keeps, who protects, who encourages, who fights for and blesses His children, exceeding abundantly above all that they could ever ask or think. Now, by way of showing you the reality of these truths from the whole of the psalm, let me give you the two main headings that will serve as the guideline of our study tonight. The first main heading will be the recognition of God's abundant blessings. The second main heading will be the response toward God's abundant blessings. So in this psalm we have the recognition of God's abundant blessings and then the response toward God's abundant blessings. Looking to verses five through 10 under our first main point, I want you to notice that God lavishes his love on his people. This is the first and primary blessing that God bestows upon his sheep. God lavishes his love toward his people. Verse five says that God is 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. O God, when Thou wentest forth before Thy people, when Thou didst march through the wilderness, Selah, The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God. Even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby Thou didst confirm Thine inheritance when it was weary. Thy congregation hath dwelt therein. Thou, O God, hast prepared of Thy goodness for the poor. Did you catch the specific ways God ever loves and cares for his own? David says God is compassionately concerned about the weak and needy. He is a God who becomes what others need in their times of feebleness and destitution. Specifically, the text says that he acts as a father to the fatherless. He acts as a judge to widows. He acts as a close friend to those who are lonely and without family. He acts as a loving new owner or master to those who have been in bondage, giving liberty to the chained and oppressed. He acts as a guide to those who do not know the way. He gives plentiful rain during times of weariness, dryness, and thirst. So in verses five through 10, David wants his readers to recognize that the God of their fathers who established his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who saved them from the bondage of Egypt, who promised to send them a Messiah is a God who is filled with compassion. He is a God who acts on the behalf of all those who need protection and vindication. He is a God who, in His marvelous grace, sees, knows, cares, provides for, and comes to those who are weak and without. God lavishes His love on His people. And the Apostle John tells us this in 1 John 3, verse 1. John says, those who are in Christ cry out from their heart, behold, What manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the children of God. And John goes on and says in that same epistles, we love him because he first loved us. Here in his love, not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation of our sins. Jeremiah would tell us that it was with the cords of God's love that he drew us to himself. So in the new covenant, through the blessings of Christ, God is our father. God in Christ is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. God in Christ is our good shepherd who leads us in the way that we should go. God in Christ acts as our judge when we are misrepresented, falsely accused, wrongfully treated. God in Christ has provided us with great spiritual riches, though we were poor, helpless, incapable of going to Him on our own. So concerning God's abundant blessings, David wants us to be mindful of the undeserved love that God in Christ lavishes on His people. That's the first specific blessing noted here in the psalm. The second specific blessing that is mentioned in verses 11 through 18 is the connected truth that God in his love protects and provides for his people. So God is a God who lavishes his love on his people, and then this same God is a God who protects and provides for his people. Notice verse 11. The Lord gave the word. Great was the company of those that published it. Kings of armies did flee apace, and she that tarried at home divided the spoil. Though ye have line among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove, covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon. The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan, and high hill as the hill of Bashan. While ye be ye high hills, this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in. Yea, the Lord will dwell in it forever. The chariots of God are 20,000, even thousands of angels. The Lord is among them as in Sinai in the holy place. Thou has descended on high, thou has led captivity captive. Thou has received gifts for men's yea, for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them. Now, did you notice the repeated mentioning of kings, armies, hills, chariots, and God setting captive people free? The overall sense of what is being said in verses 11 through 18 is that God is a God who fights for his people. God wins the battle for his people. God causes victory to be known over their enemies. And the progression of the psalm is that not only is their God, the one who has led them out from the enemy that they were under once before, this same God is a God who continues to fight their enemies over and over and over. So the overall focus of what is being said is that God, who fought the battle in bringing us out of bondage, is the God who helps them fight the battle as they continue in the way. So when they're being confronted with various kings, armies, threats, invasions, and even defeats, God has been with them, though they were outnumbered. God has been for them when they were smaller in number. God's chariots have been more powerful than the most intimidating chariots of men. God has ascended on high, he's led captivity captive, and he has given gifts to his people. And the second blessing connects with the third blessing highlighted in verses 20 through 23, which is the obvious truth that God fights for his people. Notice verse 20. He that is our God is the God of salvation. And unto God the Lord belong the issues from death. And this means the outgoings or the escapes from death. He only is the one who saves. Verse 21, but God, notice the future tense of the word shall, but God shall wound the head of his enemies. And the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses. The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan. I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea, that thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies and the tongue of thy dogs in the sea. Now notice the whole scope of time reference. David is essentially saying God has saved his people, God is saving his people, and God will save his people. They were under Pharaoh. in Egypt, but God rescued them through their journeys. They were confronted with various kings, armies, and enemies, but God has sustained them. God has protected them. God has fought for them and brought them victory after victory after victory. And now, looking forward to the battles that are ahead, David, the author of the psalm, the king of Israel, the man after God's own heart, the shepherd, who has turned into the leader of the Lord's army, says, God will be with us still. Verse 24. They have seen thy goings, O God, even the goings of my God, my king in the sanctuary. The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after. Among them were the damsels playing with timbrels. Bless ye God and the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali. Thy God hath commanded thy strength, strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us. Because of thy temple at Jerusalem, notice, shall kings bring presents unto thee. Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till everyone submit himself with pieces of silver. Scatter thou the people that delight in war. Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. Translation, there's coming a time when those who were counted to be among God's enemies will come to acknowledge that their God, Israel's God, is the true God. You see the gospel pictures pouring out of the text. Notice the types, notice the shadows that relate to those of us who know Christ savingly. Connect what David says with what we are told in the New Testament scriptures. The message of the gospel is God winning a great victory for his people through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Whereas once we were children of the devil, We were enslaved to sin, we were mesmerized by the fleeting pleasures of this life. God in Christ saved us and he won the battle that we could never win on our own. And so Paul says in Ephesians 4, seven through eight, but unto every one of us, speaking of God's people, is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When He ascended upon high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men. What are those gifts? Well, in Christ we have Him, the unspeakable gift. In Christ we have the gift of His Spirit. In Christ we have the forgiveness of sin. In Christ we have a peace that passes all understanding, a joy unspeakable and full of glory. In Christ now we have a purpose for living. In Christ we have a gracious Father who provides. In Christ we have a King, the King of Kings, who protects. In Christ we have the sword of His Spirit, the gift of His Word. In Christ we have the gift of Christian family. In Christ we have an advocate, a counselor, a comforter, a warrior who helps us when our hearts are prone to wander. Are you catching it yet? This God of ours is a God who daily loads us with benefits. This God is not just the God of Israel, In Christ, through faith in His name, He is the God of His sheep in every nation. Those who are called the Israel of God, those who are the circumcised in heart. Notice again the mentioning of the princes coming out of Egypt, out of Ethiopia, verse 31. Sound familiar? There was an Ethiopian eunuch won to Christ by Stephen in Acts chapter 8. What is that? That's King Jesus, the Prince of Peace, conquering hearts through the gospel. Now tie that into the message of Revelation. What is the message of Revelation all about? Here it is. People of every nation and tribe praising the Lamb who has saved them, kept them, and fought for them. Revelation is about Christ the King, the victorious King, conquering Satan for his people. So the response of God's people toward God's abundant blessings are first to pray. And this is what David is doing in verses one and two. Notice it. 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 melted before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. What is David's response to the gracious blessings of God? First, it's to pray, to trust in Him, to lean not on his own understanding, but on the mighty arms of God. The prayer, verses one and two, is essentially God, help us. God, fight for us. Lord, you are God, there's nothing too hard for you. With you all things are possible. So arise, Lord, you arise. These people are too strong for us. Our enemy is too magnificent for us to battle ourselves. You, Lord, drive them away. Let your name and let your cause prevail. So what do we pray when we are tempted by the evil one? when we are facing strong battles towards sin. Lord, arise, strengthen us. We are weak, but you are strong. Lord, please fight our battles for us. The second response of David is to trust, verse 28. To trust, verse 28 says, thy God hath commanded thy strength, so strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us. And the meaning of this verse is that God will strengthen. David's response is to trust the God who has in the past strengthened. He has strengthened, so in prayer he will strengthen. The God who has worked will work. David considers who God is, he considers what God has done, and it leads him to trust not in the arm of his flesh, but in the Lord. That's the second response, as we consider the love of God, as we consider the protection and provisions of God, as we consider that God is a God who goes before us and fights our battle, trust. You've gone through battles before. God has been there for you. Trust. You trusted him in the past and he saw you through, and you were blessed because of it, so trust. Isn't this the circle of life? We look back. We know God's been there for us, but we meet new battles, new concerns, and we say, can God take care of this one? Look back. Consider who he is. Consider what he's done. Trust. And then third, the third response is to gladly rejoice. Look at verses 32 through 35. What's David's response as he considers the person of God, the graces of God? He says, sing unto God. Ye kingdoms of the earth, oh, sing praises unto the Lord, Selah, to him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens. Men, ride upon earth. where moth and rust doth corrupt, God rideth upon the heavens, which were of old, lo, He doth send out His voice, and that a mighty voice. Ascribe ye strength unto God. His excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. O God, thou art terrible, thou art awesome out of thy holy places. The God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. So blessed be God. Worship him as he is. Fear his name. So in this Psalm, David recognizes first God's abundant blessings, and then he responds to God's abundant blessings. So in light of these truths, my concluding questions for you are, number one, do you know this God? Do you know personally and experientially the victory that God through Christ gives over Satan and sin? When, if ever, has God saved you? When, if ever, has God become your father? When, if ever, has God set you free from the bondage of this world? This is the text. When, if ever, have you come to taste and see in a saving sense that the Lord is good? When did you come to know that God is the God who daily loads you with benefits? And then question number two is addressed for those who know the victory that is in Christ. For those of you who are true followers of Jesus, the question for you is, are you taking time throughout your day to recognize the abundant blessings of God? Are you taking time to sit at the feet of Jesus like Mary, through his word, so that you can personally be reminded of His goodness and grace? Are you taking account of what He has done for you, what He is doing for you, and what He has promised to do for you in the future? Perhaps you're here this evening, perhaps you're listening online, and you're overwhelmed with the day-by-day tasks of life. Perhaps you are overburdened, you are discouraged, weak, battling the flesh, you're tempted by the evil one. If so, the call of this psalm is for you to take a sila, to remember, to call to mind the blessings of God in Christ that have been given to you. And as you count your blessings, even in the midst of your trials, let the light of God's grace drive you out of your darkness and into an attitude of praise. It's one thing to call God's blessings to mind. It's another thing actually to praise Him for it, to rejoice in your heart for the blessings of God. Sometimes there's something stuck between our brains and our heart, our brains and our lips. It's one thing to know God's blessing here. It's another thing to verbalize them to God and to others as we ought to. So David is verbalizing it throughout the psalm and really throughout the whole of the psalms. Remember, these are songs that are sung by God's people to God. And this is the final call of verses 32 through 35. The final call is to sing unto God to ascribe strength to Him, to bless His name. Now, for those of you who may be here or listening, who know yourself to be lost, you know yourself to be without hope and without God in this world, yet you keep rebelling against the invitation to be saved. If that's you, look at verse six. Verse six says, God saideth thee solitary in families, He bringeth out those which are bound with chains, but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. This means that if you carry on rejecting the living water, if you keep refusing to drink of the gospel, your heart will be forever empty, your soul will be forever dry, and your life will be nothing but vanity. You can try to find satisfaction in the sinful things of this life, like the woman at the well, but nothing, nothing will ever quench your thirst. So my final plea to you, to those who are without Christ and without God, let the goodness of God lead you to repentance. God is the one who blesses you with all Blessings, even when you don't know Him, every good and perfect gift comes from above. God allows His rain to fall on the just and the unjust. We enjoy so many temporal blessings from the Lord. So as we see them as free graces from His hand, it ought to lead us to repentance. Turn from the unsatisfying wells of this world and turn to the water of life. The spirit and the bride say, come. And let him that heareth say, come. And let him that is a thirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely. Jesus says, I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall never hunger. And he that believeth on me shall never thirst. There's the abundant blessing. The abundant blessing is found in Christ. He's the fountain. He's the source through which all blessings flow. And if you don't have the fountain, if you don't have the source, you cannot know God. You will not know everlasting life.