What is the meaning of Psalm 68:20? Our God • Notice the word “our.” The psalmist isn’t speaking about some distant deity; he’s pointing to the One who has entered into covenant with His people. Like David who declared, “The LORD is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1), we can speak possessively of Him because He has first made Himself available to us. • Scripture continually presents God as personally involved with His own. Moses reminded Israel, “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27). • This personal dimension invites confidence. When trouble comes, we don’t run to an impersonal force; we run to “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1). is a God of deliverance • “Deliverance” isn’t a vague idea; it’s God’s demonstrated habit. – At the Red Sea He told Israel, “Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation” (Exodus 14:13). – When David faced Goliath he announced, “The battle belongs to the LORD, and He will deliver you into our hand” (1 Samuel 17:47). – Even Jonah, fresh from rebellion, confessed, “Salvation comes from the LORD” (Jonah 2:9). • The psalmist’s statement therefore anchors us in a long, unbroken record of rescues: God acts, God saves, God sets free. As Psalm 34:17 puts it, “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles.” the Lord GOD • By pairing “Lord” (Master) with “GOD” (Yahweh, the covenant name), the verse underlines both authority and faithfulness. • The One who delivers has absolute power and unchanging character. “I, the LORD, do not change” (Malachi 3:6), so His saving work isn’t a passing phase. • Because of His lordship, no enemy is too strong; because of His covenant love, no child of His is overlooked. is our rescuer from death • The ultimate enemy is death itself, yet the psalmist speaks of God as already holding the victory. – Hosea 13:14 echoes this promise: “I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death.” – Jesus fulfilled it, declaring, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25) and rising to announce, “I hold the keys of Death and of Hades” (Revelation 1:18). – Paul celebrates the same triumph: “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55). • God’s rescue operates on two levels: – Temporal: He can spare life in the here and now, as countless biblical stories show. – Eternal: He conquers the grave, giving everlasting life to all who trust Him. Either way, death does not have the final word over those who belong to Him. summary Psalm 68:20 affirms that the God who claims us is the God who saves us—constantly, powerfully, and finally. He delivers in daily struggles, and He decisively rescues from death itself. The verse invites unwavering trust: the Lord who is ours is faithful, mighty, and victorious, so we can rest in His saving hands today and forever. |
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