The Goodness of God

After being on vacation, then sick with a fever that went to the family, I fell short of my goal to write a post weekly. In my own strength this was frustrating. As I finally moved to consider some topics to address, I considered how God really has been good to my family and me.

I was reminded, "Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah." (Ps. 68:19)

Here are some comments on Psalm 68.

The Lord has chosen his dwelling place. The believer is indwelt by God through the Holy Spirit. Of the great and might men and women of this world, the Almighty God of the Universe has chosen to indwell each and every person who is the object of His Grace in Jesus Christ.

Other mountaintops are not higher than the place God has chosen. God is no respecter of persons. Every mighty person among mankind can not claim a higher position than the lowliest citizen of God's Kingdom. For everyone indwelt by Almighty God is a king and a priest in His Kingdom. We are His servants, and we are His ambassadors. For the redeemed live as lights in the darkness of the world through our deeds of kindness and compassion and love. But it is not our acts of service ("ministry" in Christian-ese), that secure a higher place in God's eyes, rather we are lifted up by God because he is merciful to us who are sinners.

God's protection will be upon his chosen dwelling and not another. God's protection is not by the power of man, but by the power of His Gospel. For our deliverance from The Death is not our work but the work of God in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for sinners, suffered our condemnation in death for three days, and then was raised for our justification. We are not ashamed of this message because it is The Good News about Christ "for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes."

God's protection is total victory. The Resurrection of Jesus is the greatest victory for mankind because of it's totality. In His victory on the cross he interposed His Righteous Self between God's Wrath and sinners; in His victory in the grave he bore our condemnation and penalty for sin; and, in His Resurrection He secured our justification before God.

His victory is put on view to all because the psalmist tells us that he “led captivity captive.” In other words, He is at the head of a public parade of the conquered enemies of Death and Hell as in a display of His power and authority over them. And so His people are assured of Life and a place of honor in His earthly and heavenly Kingdom.

But not only are Death and Hell so absolutely conquered, but the Lord also is showered with glory through the gifts of men, that is the service of servants who are willing to be subject to the conquering Lord, and displayed as “trophies of His grace.”

Assurance of Daily Blessings. Because of the Lord’s total ascendancy in the lives of His people, they can be assured of daily blessings from His hand. Although not all may go well with them, the Lord’s people are assured of the Lord’s favor and encouragement in difficulty and in ease because we share in His victory over Death and Hell, and also in His Life and Kingdom.