• on March 18, 2023

NO DEFEAT – NO FAILURE

Psalms 68:1

            Psalms 68 celebrates God’s might (v1-3), His majesty (4), His mercy (5,60, and His morality (6). It is a relatively long psalm, also referred to as a Song of David. As we read, all we can say from the beginning is – what powerful lyrics! It has as its main subject – the victory of God. 

            It is also entitled by one man as – The Mighty Conqueror. It refers to the majestic God as the marching God. This is strikingly brought out in verse 7, when it says “O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness: (7). Then the erudite composer of this psalm calls upon his readers to take some time to pause just a while to reflect upon this profound truth. He punctuates this verse with one of his “Selahs.” He implies, this is an opportune time to slow down a little and to really let this thought sink into our spirits. The recurrent message is there is no defeat in this our mighty, majestic, merciful God. He marches before His people down through the ages of time and it is evident that no power on earth can stop His victorious march forward!
            In this, our twenty-first century church can seriously rejoice, that our God has never lost a battle. When coming to our God, we can only speak in terms of victory, power, healing and deliverance. He repeatedly overcomes, defeats and destroys the enemy. As He triumphantly brought the children of Israel out of bondage, marching before them the psalmist further declares “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” (v8). How vivid the scene, Israel marching out of Egypt and the majestic God wrapped up in Shekinah glory, marching on ahead of them. No wonder the earth shook, not because of Moses and this undisciplined army, but because of the One who went before them and amongst them. Twice in this short verse he makes mention of “the presence of God… the presence of God, the God of Israel” (v8). We note it is His presence that makes all the difference. With Him, we always win! Without Him, we always lose!   

            Based on this splendid psalm, which also celebrates the millennial reign of Christ (v32), we the leaders of this church and believers in His Word, can only prophesy victory for this church as we continue our designated march into 2023. All I can say to you is “Rejoice” because we are predestinated and predesigned to win every battle as we cautiously proceed this year behind Him. Yes, we can afford to do as verse 3 instructs – “But let the righteous be glad: let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.” Here in the Northeast Region and beyond, we choose to exceedingly rejoice as we victoriously march forward! 

            Did you grasp the overriding theme of the Psalm? It documents God’s victorious march through history His victorious march to the sanctuary (v5) – His victorious march through the wilderness (v7) – His victorious march into Canaan (v12,13) – His victorious march against the enemy (v21). Most of all it documents His victorious march to Calvary and then His victorious march out of death, hell and the grave (v18). Can’t you see how He daily loads us with benefits? (v19). In Him, there is No defeat, no failure and as His church we march right on behind Him victoriously. Our battle cry remains, “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered…” (Psalm 68:1). 

Leroy V. Greenaway 

Presiding Bishop – Northeast Region 

March 18th, 2023

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