Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. The Presence of God

a) As a doctrine to be understood

b) As a reality to be experienced

c) As a truth to be treasured

2. The Provision of God

9 “You, O God, sent a plentiful rain,
Whereby You confirmed Your inheritance,
When it was weary.

10 Your congregation dwelt in it;
You, O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor.

11 The Lord gave the word;
Great was the company of those who proclaimed it:

12 “Kings of armies flee, they flee,
And she who remains at home divides the spoil.

13 Though you lie down among the sheepfolds,
You will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver,
And her feathers with yellow gold.”

14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it,
It was white as snow in Zalmon.”

Psalm 68:9-14

MANY ASPECTS ABOUT GOD’S PROVISION TO BE APPRECIATED

1. Natural Provision

“You, O God, sent a plentiful rain”   Psalm 68:9a

a) This is often taken for granted

b) It is explained away as a “natural” occurrence

c) The spiritual eyes of faith enable us to see God’s hand of provision

2. Provision of a physical “Inheritance”

“Whereby You confirmed Your inheritance,
When it was weary”   Psalm 68:9b

a) The promise of a physical inheritance may be traced to its historical origin

b) The promise of the land of Canaan as an “inheritance” was given to Abraham   (Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14-17;15:13-21)

c) This inheritance was confirmed

i) Conquering of the land (Joshua)

ii) Establishing of the nation

“Your congregation dwelt in it”   Psalm 68:10a

3. Provision for the Poor

“You, O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor”   Psalm 68:10b

a) The goodness of the LORD

i) This truth is to be borne in mind

ii) Out of God’s goodness we have been blessed wonderfully

b) The poor are not neglected

i) Provision was to be made for them

ii) This was made as a statute

7 “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the [d]gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,
8 but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.
9 Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the LORD against you, and it becomes sin among you.
10 You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.
11 For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’

Deuteronomy 15:7-11

4. Provision of Divine Deliverance

a) The defeat of many kings

b) The defence of God’s people

c) The deliverance God gave

31 “And the LORD said to me, ‘See, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to possess it, that you may inherit his land.’
32 Then Sihon and all his people came out against us to fight at Jahaz.
33 And the LORD our God delivered him [k]over to us; so we defeated him, his sons, and all his people.
34 We took all his cities at that time, and we utterly destroyed the men, women, and little ones of every city; we left none remaining.
35 We took only the livestock as plunder for ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we took.
36 From Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and from the city that is in the ravine, as far as Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us; the LORD our God delivered all to us.”

Deuteronomy 2:31-36

CONCLUSION

1. Reviewing a Vital Truth

“The Presence of God”   Psalm 68:8

2. Recognizing God’s Provision

“You, O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor”   Psalm 68:10b

3. Rejoicing in the LORD

3 “But let the righteous be glad;
Let them rejoice before God;
Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.

4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name;
Extol Him who rides on the clouds,
By His name YAH,
And rejoice before Him.”

Psalm 68:3-4