Psalm 68:18–20 18Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received gifts for men; Yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. 19Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loadeth us with benefits, Even the God of our salvation. Selah. 20He that is our God is the God of salvation; And unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.
Captive, these poor souls were held against their will by a cruel oppressor. The burdens forced upon them almost broke their backs and certainly shattered their spirits, until their hero arrived. The sounding of his arrival woke hope that lay dormant within their chest. He came and conquered, putting his heel on the oppressor’s head.
Rescued, no longer bound by the bonds.
Released from the prison that had held them.
Relieved of the burden forced upon their backs.
Not only has he conquered the enemy and rescued the captives but conquered captivity itself. In his care there is no danger of further confinement.
The victorious procession going home is filled with smiles and singing about the champion who brought salvation.
Bestowed, he brings them with him and loads them down with the spoils he had won. It would be enough to be rescued from the burden but to replace it with riches, this King is gracious and good.
Who is this hero?
Paul said it was Christ. He quotes Psalm 68:18 in his letter to the Ephesian church.
Ephesians 4:7–8 7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
What are those gifts that he daily loads upon us?
There is a lot of them. He doesn’t give the same ones to all; he cares too much for that. His blessings are as varied as his people.
There is a debate among some as to the meaning of Psalm 68:19. The KJV that I love so much lets us in on the dilemma with italics. The italicized words inform us that they were inserted by the translators and were not in the original texts. Look closely at those words.
Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord,
Who daily loadeth us with benefits,
Even the God of our salvation. Selah.
“With benefits” is not there. Don’t get me wrong, he loads us down with benefits for certain, but what if we look at it another way?
What if he is saying that he loads us upon himself?
What if he carries us upon his strong shoulders all the way home?
So, which is it it? Is he loading us with blessing or bearing us on his back?
I am so thankful that he does both.
Wow, what a Savior is ours! He is Certainly my hero!
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