Called to March with the Almighty! Psalm 68:7-11

Text: “O God, when Thou wentest forth before thy people, when Thou didst march through the wilderness; 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.”

Psalm 68:7-8.

Good morning, marching Christian!  You and I have been called by the Living Lord God, not to be mere bystanders, or side-line watchers in His great army of sin-liberated souls.  No!  We are called to prepare Spiritual weapons from His Word; live our lives in dedicated duty and loyalty to Christ Jesus; and be drawn out to march with the Almighty as He subdues all that is sin-blackened and rebellious upon His Created earth. 

Up, Christian soldier!  Let us draw strength from God’s Spirit, and Spiritual arms from the Heavenly armoury of His Word.  Hallelujah!  Our God reigneth!

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4)

If the Holy Presence of the Living Creator Lord goes before us into Spiritual Battle – what have we to fear from mere worldlings, evil powers, or wicked Devils?  Nothing!  We are to fear nothing when we are called to march with the Almighty Lord God, in Christ Jesus.

Verse 8. “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.  This passage is so sublime that it would be difficult to find its equal.  May the reader’s heart adore the God before Whom the unconscious earth and sky act as if they recognised their Maker and were moved with a tremor of reverence.” (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 291)

Verse 9.  “Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby Thou didst confirm Thine inheritance, when it was weary.  Marching with the Lord God, in service to His dear Son, Jesus Christ, is a Divine privilege to be enjoyed by those whom the Lord God has, in His Sovereign will and Eternal purpose, called, and empowered by His Spirit to do so.  Yet, while engaged in this great march in Christ’s Spiritual army, we can get quite weary at times, thirsty for living water; and worn down by the ever-present oppositions of the world, our own weak, sin-prone flesh, and the Devil and his legions of vile tormentors.  At times like these, we cry out for the rains of God’s Heavenly refreshment.  The Lord always sends His ever-present help at such times.

“He giveth (gives, and continues to give) power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  (Isaiah 40:29-31)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.  Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”  (Psalm 46:1-3)

Be of good cheer, downcast Reader of this Bible Lesson – you are not alone in “…the feelings of your infirmity…”  Your Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, has walked in a human body, experienced all that you and I experience, in a human body of flesh and bone.  He knows exactly what we need to sustain us for the Spiritual Battle, and for contending with the infirmities of our puny human flesh.  Have no fear, beloved friend, help is on the way.

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For (a conclusion) we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let is therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in time of need.”  (Hebrews 4:14-16)

As we seek to march with the Almighty Lord God into Spiritual Battle daily - as regenerate, ‘born again’, Christians – we shall often grow weary, and disheartened, for the world is in a worse state today, in this ever-increasing apostate, anti-Christian, so-called politically correct world we live in, than ever I have experienced it in all my 76 years of life.

Spiritual weariness, or feeling in poverty of Spiritual power, is not an uncommon perception for militant, Bible-believing Christians today.  However, we must remember that it was our Spiritual poverty, or, our being ‘quickened’ to fully realise our Spiritual poverty – that commenced our journey of repentance from our sins, onto Salvation in Christ Jesus!

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs's is the Kingdom of Heaven.”  (Matthew 5:3)

God’s Kingdom was only prepared for us who were enlightened of the Lord God to know our desperate need of Christ’s Salvation.  Praise God it is so, beloved Reader! (Ephesians 2:1;5)

Verse 10: “Thou, O God, hast prepared of Thy goodness for the poor.  Within the guarded circle, there was plenty for all; all were poor in themselves, yet there were no beggars in all the camp, for celestial fare was to be had for the gathering.  We, too, still dwell within the circling protection of the Most High, and find goodness made ready for us: although poor and needy by nature, we are enriched by grace; Divine preparations in the decree, and the Covenant, the Atonement, providence, and the Spirit’s work, have made ready for us a fullness of the blessing of the Lord.”  (Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 291)

I have often heard it said that, ‘An army marches on its stomach’; meaning, you cannot have and march an army into war without first making absolute sure that you can feed that army with necessary food, in order to keep them healthy and fit for battle.

Similarly, Christ’s Spiritual army of Bible-believing Christians cannot be called out to march with the Almighty into Spiritual Battle without God providing the absolutely necessary Spiritual food to sustain them!  For this vital food, the Lord God has provided His Word.

Job said: “…I have esteemed the Words of His mouth more than my necessary food.”      (Job 23:12)

Thought: Verse 11. “The Lord gave the Word: great was the company of those that published it.  Oh for a like zeal in the church of today that when the Gospel is published, both men and women may eagerly spread the glad tidings of great joy.” (C.H. Spurgeon Treasury of David, page 291)