Psalm 68 … Consider Him Who Daily Bears Our Burdens

Originally posted: 10/31/2020

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation, (68:19).

Psalm 68 is a walk down memory lane for the Israelites; a necessity when facing a powerful enemy. This Psalm of David reminds God’s people of their humble beginnings, of their awesome and mighty God, and of His faithfulness to His people and His Covenant.

From NIV Study Bible: “Ps 68 A hymn celebrating the triumphal march of Israel’s God from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion… The first half of the Psalm (vv. 1-18) contains many clear references to God’s triumphal march from Mount Sinai (in the days of Moses) to the events of Mount Zion (in the days of David). The events of Mount Sinai marked the birth of the kingdom of God among His people Israel; the placement of the ark of the covenant (symbol of God’s throne) in the temple in Jerusalem marked the establishment of God’s redemptive kingdom among the nations of the earth, with Jerusalem as its royal city. The second half of the Psalm (vv. 19-35) is framed by the cry, “Praise to the Lord/God” and looks forward with expectations of God’s continuing triumphs until the redemption of His people is complete and His kingly rule is universally acknowledged with songs of praise.”

David begins his song by calling on God to scatter His enemies.

May God arise, may His enemies be scattered,
And may those who hate Him flee from His presence, (68:1).

David could pray this in faith, for he had seen Him do this time and time again. There’s a lesson in this for us. When facing an overwhelming threat of catastrophe and destruction, after running to Him in faith, perhaps, the most effective thing we can do is to review our past and remember Him Who Daily Bears Our Burdens.

Consider Him Who Daily Bears Our Burdens

• He Daily Bears Our Burdens as He cares for the fatherless and the widows.
  • A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows,
    Is God in His holy dwelling, (68:5).

• He Daily Bears Our Burdens as He provides for the lonely and the prisoner.
  • God makes a home for the lonely;
    He leads out the prisoners into prosperity,
    Only the rebellious live in parched lands, (68:6).

• He Daily Bears Our Burdens by the strength of His presence.
  • God, when You went forth before Your people,
    When You marched through the desert, Selah
    ⁸ The earth quaked;
    The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God;
    Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel, (68:7-8).

• He Daily Bears Our Burdens by His plentiful and kind provision.
  • You made plentiful rain fall, God;
    You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched.
    ¹⁰ Your creatures settled in it;
    In Your kindness You provided for the poor, God, (68:9-10).

• He Daily Bears Our Burdens as He triumphantly leads in His holiness.
  • The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands;
    The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.
    ¹⁸ You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives;
    You have received gifts among people,
    Even among the rebellious as well, that the Lord God may dwell there, (68:17-18).

• He Daily Bears Our Burdens as our Salvation.
  •  Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,
    The God who is our salvation, (68:19).

• He Daily Bears Our Burdens as He grants our escape from death.
  • God is to us a God of salvation;
    And to God the Lord belong ways of escape from death, (68:20).

• He Daily Bears Our Burdens as He shatters our enemies.
  • God certainly will shatter the heads of His enemies,
    The hairy head of one who goes about in his guilt, (68:21).

• He Daily Bears Our Burdens as He shows Himself strong to act in our behalf.
  • Your God has commanded your strength;
    Show Yourself strong, God, You who acted in our behalf, (68:28).

• He Daily Bears Our Burdens as He gives strength and power to His people.
  • God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary.
    The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people.
    Blessed be God! (68:35).

How do we respond to Him Who Daily Bears Our Burdens?

The extent to which He Daily Bears Our Burdens is truly mind boggling. In The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson (a phenomenal book to encourage our prayer life and faith), on page 219, he tells the story of a female inmate who had prayed and asked God for basic toiletry necessities in prison. What may seem like a small thing to many, was a huge answer to prayer for this woman so in need of the basics. From this story Mr. Batterson, draws the simplest yet most profound analysis: “God is great, not just because nothing is too big for Him; God is great because nothing is too small for Him.”

And I think sometimes we forget that. We forget He cares about the little things as much as the big things, because He cares so very much about each one of us. When Peter wrote we are to cast all our cares and anxieties on Him, there were no qualifications regarding the magnitude of the burden.

casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you, (1 Peter 5:7).

All means exactly that; all. We are not instructed to take only our big problems, our huge burdens to Him; or only when we are at the point of exhaustion from trying to carry them ourselves. No, Peter wrote that we are to cast all our burdens on Him. There is no burden too large and no burden too small for Him Who Daily Bears Our Burdens.

Today, let’s take our own walk down memory lane, and intentionally call to mind the big and the small ways we have seen Him Daily Bear Our Burdens; and perhaps we may even write our own song of praise.

If today feels like there is a raging storm ahead, let us choose to recall every rescue, every help, every answer to prayer, every time He has intervened to Daily Bear Our Burdens; and let us thank Him for each and every one. I think this may be altogether what Paul was imparting in his letter to the Philippian church.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, (Philippians 4:6).

As we remember all He has done in the past, and as we plead with thanksgiving, thanking Him for every act of grace in our behalf, we will be empowered to not be anxious about anything in our future as we celebrate and praise Him Who Daily Bears Our Burdens.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation, (68:19).

Let’s Grow Together!