Temple Baptist Church - 10-15-2023
Psalm 68
Introduction:
A. The title of this Psalm came from the Huguenots of France who sang this Psalm because of the persecutions that they endured. The Huguenots were French Protestants who, in the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, saw 70,000 of their people murdered in 3 days, beginning on August 23, 1572.
B. What we see unfolding before our eyes in Israel is a story almost as old as time. Some 4,000 years ago, we find the life of Abraham, a father of both Islam and Israel as both nations sprang from his loins.
C. The Islamic people believe that since Ishmael was the eldest son of Abraham, they believe that as the first-born son, he was the heir-apparent to both blessing and the land. Thus, the land of Canaan belongs to them.
D. Through the Bible, which Islam rejects, we understand that the promised seed of Abraham came through Sara and that seed was Isaac. And both the Seed of Christ and the Land Covenant belongs to the Jew.
E. This conflict is also a spiritual one as through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob came faith in Jehovah God and Judaism and ultimately the Bible that we hold dear. The Arabic descendants began the religion of Islam, Muhammad, and the Koran.
F. The conflict in the Middle East is the direct result of good against evil and God against Satan.
G. I believe that the timing of the Psalm is divine because of the war between Israel and Hamas. There is a lot of misinformation out there.
1. Israel is the aggressor and is to blame for the ungodly attack upon them by the Hamas. This next week, the United Nations will try once again to censure Irael and portray Hamas and Hezbollah as victims in this war.
2. There are those who are in high places who are Arabic and Islamic that want America to cease from aiding and standing with Israel. May America continue to be a true friend to Israel along with continuing both aid and military power to aid them.
3. That Islam and Jews can live together in a dual state in peace. Ishmael has mocked Israel since the days of Isaac, the promised seed.
Genesis 21:8-9 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. (9) And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
4. The list can go on so let us look at the Psalm in light of Israel, God’s Time Clock. We know and biblically understand what time it is as Israel, the Fig Tree, has put forth her leaves as she returned to the land of her fathers, the Promised Land—Canaan.
Psalms 102:16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
5. In 1914, General Allenby, a British general, in what was called the Allenby Declaration, gave Canaan back to the Jewish nation as their homeland. Israel began to come home. May 15, 1948, Israel became a recognized nation once again and the Israeli Flag, the Star of David, painted the breeze.
6. Israel is the most hated nation on earth because she is God’s nation. Surrounded by her enemies with her back to the sea, she has nowhere to go so fight and war she must.
H. This Psalm of David depicted some of the great battles and wars that Israel endured and the great victories that God wrought over their enemies.
J. I want to give a general outline of the Psalm first.
1. Verses 1-6. David praises God for His Power over the Enemies.
2. Verses 7-10. David praises God for His Provision in the Elements.
3. Verses 11-23. David praises God for His Providence in Canaan.
4. Verses 24-27. David praises God for His Presence in the Sanctuary.
5. Verses 28-35. David praises God for His Promise in the Future.
K. Which brings me to the message tonight.
1. Israel is God’s Nationally.
a. Israel, God’s Promise to Abraham. Genesis 12:1-2 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: (2) And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
b. Israel, God’s Performance in Jacob. Genesis 28:1-4 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. (2) Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. (3) And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; (4) And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.
Genesis 46:3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
2. Israel’s Greatness. This Psalm speaks of God’s relationship with Israel in conflict and hard times. Though often a sinful and rebellious nation, God has never and will never forsake Israel.
a. In this psalm, we saw His Power, provision, providence, presence, and promise.
b. God said that Israel would be a great nation. Throughout history, the world has prospered because of Israel: finances, medicines, inventions, science, weapons of war, etc., but especially great because it was through Israel came the Son of God, our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. From the beginning, Israel’s history has been one of conflict as she has battled for her existence.
a. Israel was “born in the fire.” 1 Kings 8:51 For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron:
b. Israel is the most hated nation on earth though all she seeks is to live peaceably in the land given to her by God. Most noted in the Holocaust where over 6 million Jews were exterminated as “The Final Solution” by Nazi Germany.
c. Israel battles today against the seed of Ishmael.
d. Israel will be pursued by Satan during the Tribulation Period or Jacob’s Trouble. Revelation 12:14-17 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (15) And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. (16) And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. (17) And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
3. The Nation of Israel is a Peculiar Nation. Apple, elect, my glory, etc.
a. Israel is God’s Elect Nation. Isaiah 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. (Chosen by God.)
b. Israel is God’s Glory. Isaiah 46:13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory (beauty or praise).
c. Israel is the Apple of God’s Eye. Zechariah 2:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple (pupil) of his eye.
3. God gave Israel her land. If someone does not like this, take it up with God because it was his idea and plan.
a. Israel is not a Palestinian State, it is a Jewish state.
b. Israel is not a dual state, it is a singular state.
c. Israel is God’s elect Nation living in her land that God gave to her.
4. Tonight, she is once again in a fight for her life as she is totally surrounded by her enemies and under an unprovoked attack. Her enemies will not prevail. They are a hardheaded bunch as they never seem to learn this basic lesson: LEAVE ISRAEL ALONE!
a. God is on Israel’s Side.
Deuteronomy 32:9-11 For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. (10) He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. (11) As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:
Psalms 2:1-6 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? (2) The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, (3) Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. (4) He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. (5) Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. (6) Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psalms 17:8-9 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, (9) From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
Isaiah 41:8-10 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. (9) Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. (10) Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 54:15-17 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. (16) Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. (17) No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
b. We need to stay on Israel’s side.
1) Pray for Israel. Psalms 122:6-9 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. (7) Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. (8) For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. (9) Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.
2) We need to ask God to bless Israel. Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
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