THE MARCH OF GOD

Psalms 68:7

A. "O GOD, WHEN THOU WENTEST FORTH BEFORE THY PEOPLE, WHEN THOU DIDST MARCH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS."
  1. The sixty-eighth Psalm is the Marseillaise of God's book, the Bible:
    1. All through it there resounds the measured tread of the hosts of God
    2. In its superb sweep and rush it gives a wonderful picture of an irresistible and victorious advance
  2. God arises and His enemies are scattered, driven before Him like smoke:
    1. Crash upon crash o thunder, till the mountains reel, and the kings of armies flee apace
    2. The waters of the Red Sea hear His voice and part to allow the host of heaven to pass through on dry ground - Ps.78:12-13 B. GOD ON THE MARCH
  3. First of all this, we note:
    1. That God is whom we see, on the march
    2. Israel's journey through the wilderness is typical - "In the daytime also He led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire." - Ps.78:14
    3. "And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation." Ps.107:7
    4. Every morning when the ark set forward, Moses said, "Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered." - Num.10:35
    5. Every evening when it rested, he said, "Return, 0 Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel" - Num.10:36
  4. So when men look back on that heroic age:
    1. They see that it was not Israel that was on the march
    2. But it was God, who was on the march
    3. Jehovah was there in all His majesty, Leading on through the sea and the wilderness to the promised land
    4. His presence and His presence alone made the advance possible, and wonderfully accounted for the signs and miracles which accompanied the march
    5. "He sent Moses, His servant; and Aaron whom He had chosen. They shewed His signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham." Ps.105:26-27 21
    6. "He brought forth Israel out of the Land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders" Jer.32:21 C. NATURE AND TRIUMPH OF THE MARCH OF GOD
  5. The Psalmist goes on to describe the accompaniment of the divine march:
    1. They are judgment and mercy - judgment upon those who stood in His way, and mercy on those whom He came to redeem - Jer.31:1-3
    2. God's judgment against the enemies of God are frequently spoken of in the history of Israel, in the song of Deborah - Judg.5:4, and in the vision of Habakkuk - Hab.3:3
    3. The thunder spoke of judgment - "The earth shook, even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of the God of Israel." - Ps.68:8
  6. But all the vast wreckage of fallen empires tells the same tale:
    1. Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome are all beeps of memorable ruins in the wake of the march of God
    2. "I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; until he come whose right it is." - Ezek.21:27
  7. The grand design of the march of God in the history of the nations:
    1. The redemption of His people is foremost in the grand design of the march of God
    2. That was so in the experience of ancient Israel - "I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgment." - Ex.6:6
    3. It will be so with God's remnant people now being gathered from every land and every nation - Rev.5:9; 14:3-4
    4. The Three Angels Message of Revelation 14:6-11 will be His means to lead His remnant to the promised land
  8. As we take a prayerful look at the march of God:
    1. In ages Past
    2. In the current events unfolding before our eyes - we are awed by the majesty and glory of the march of Jehovah
    3. It reveals to us that God has a definite plan for His people - their redemption; and that no opposition will change that grand plan
    4. God is on the march - are you?
    5. The question is, am I in that procession? Do I boldly confess that I am but a pilgrim in this present world, and that I am homeward bound to a country wherein dwelleth righteousness


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