Psalm 68—Scripture Introduction
Last week, I highlighted several verses of this psalm as an overview. This morning, we’ll read the entire psalm as the theme of Christ’s ascension continues in Eph. 4:9-10.
Psalms 65-68 God calls from Mount Zion upon the nations to worship him. In Ephesians, Paul connects God’s march from Sinai to Zion to Christ’s march from his earthly manger to the heavenly throne.
Theme: God’s triumphal procession from Sinai to Zion.
- God’s victory over his enemies.
- God’s preservation of his people in the wilderness.
There is a liturgical association with the use of this psalm at Pentecost (AKA: Feast of Weeks—End of the grain harvest).
- OT: gift of law on Sinai (offered firstfruits to God)
- NT: gift of Holy Spirit (received as firstfruits from God)
Rom 8:23 “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”
Ps. 68 precursor to Revelation—Victory/Judgment
Every Square Inch (Ephesians 4:9-10)
Last week—v.8 quote of Ps 68:18. God’s triumph over his enemies points to Christ’s ascension. This week—vv.9-10 Christ’s descent/ascent point to Christ’s sovereign authority.
Pray & Read Ephesians 4:9-10.
Two brothers were playing on mounds of sand along the banks of a river near Brian Chapell’s hometown. Mounds with pockets of air can collapse creating a sink hole that immediately fills in with sand from higher up the mound.
- “Where is your brother?”
- “I’m standing on his shoulders.”
The descension of Christ means we can stand upon his shoulders. His death means life for us.
The ascension of Christ means he can intercede on our behalf ensuring that we will persevere.
Apart from Christ’s incarnation and ascension we could not enjoy his redemption and glorification.
Christ’s descent to earth secured our standing and his ascent to heaven secured our resting.
- The Humiliation of Christ’s Descent (9)
- The Exaltation of Christ’s Ascent (10)
I. The Humiliation of Christ’s Descent (9)
The same Christ who ascended also descended, but isn’t Christ enthroned at the right hand of the Father? The phrase “lower regions,” in the OT, can mean earth (Isa 44:23), grave (Ps 63:10), womb (Ps 139:15), and Hades (Ezk 32:24).
Historically, Christ’s descent into hell (cf. 1 Pt. 3:18-20, Luther thought it was the hardest text in Scripture). After Christ’s death, he descended into hell “to proclaim to the spirits in prison,” (victory over enemies/gospel to OT saints). The passage refers to the formerly disobedient—“in the days of Noah.” Taken literally, Jesus preached “in the spirit” to those who were destroyed in the flood (e.g. purgatory).
Ephesians 4:9 is not about Christ’s descent into hell, but his incarnation. By becoming man, Christ inhabited this “lower region, the earth.” In John 8:23, Jesus told the Pharisees, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” Christ descended prior to his ascension. In his incarnation he experienced humiliation before exaltation (Ps 22:6; Isa 53:2). Christ models humility for us, which is a necessary aspect of unity (Phil 2:5-11).
I mentioned at WNF a TED Talk by Brené Brown titled “Listening to Shame.” She makes the point that vulnerability is not weakness by asking two questions:
- Do you typically think of vulnerability as weakness?
- How many of you, when you saw vulnerability up here [on stage] thought it was pure courage?
Her basic point is profound. We think being humble and vulnerable will cause others think poorly of us; that we’re weak and needy. But, it actually does the opposite. Most of us see vulnerability as strength.
When we reflect upon what Jesus did for us, what is the climax of his humiliation? We are rightly drawn to the agony of his death on the cross. But what makes that the pinnacle of his humiliation is that we know he descended from heaven in order to endure the shame and guilt of our sin.
What did you do when you recognized that to be true? Weren’t you irresistibly drawn to trust him? In that moment—absolutely nothing else mattered. You didn’t deliberate whether you should keep studying. Once you understood his death as a substitutionary atonement for your sins—you were ready to give him your life. You finally understood that it is in the power of Christ alone that you are able to stand.
› The humiliation of Christ’s descent is followed by…
II. The Exaltation of Christ’s Ascent (10)
The same Christ who suffered humiliation in his death and burial also experienced exaltation in his ascension and transcendence. His descent to earth was rewarded with an ascent above the highest realms of heaven.
Abraham Kuyper: “Oh, no single piece of our mental world is to be hermetically sealed off from the rest, and there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!’”
He “fills all things” in the sense of having authority over all things (cf. Eph 1:20-23). He made the same argument to the Philippians. Obedient to the point of death, but highly exalted and given the name above every name (Phil 2:1-11). Christ’s presence pervades the universe.
Christ fills all things so that we might feel his presence. His human body is still confined to one place. Not physical but spiritual. He is above the heavens, yet his power/gifts fill all things by his Spirit. Christ is physically absent but spiritually present—multiplying his blessings at Pentecost!
Christ’s descent to earth secured our standing and his ascent to heaven secured our resting.
Paul has already made this argument (Eph 2:6). If we have been raised up and seated with Christ, then we are united to him spiritually in the heavenly places. He has already secured our victory—but he continues to sanctify us, preparing us for his return.
The same Christ who descended also ascended, and he will descend again! The same Jesus who took on flesh, was crucified, and buried—was also raised to life, ascended above all heavens that he might fill all things, and is coming again to eradicate sin. Christ’s ascension inaugurates the fulfillment of his filling all things through his Church.
Our maturity is the purpose of Christ’s ascension!
The church remains “in the desert…Canaan and rest still lie ahead” (Strimple). But because our forerunner already occupies the throne, the promised land is certain. John Owen said that a sight of Christ’s heavenly glory “will lift the minds and hearts of believers above all the troubles of this life.”
In the Old Testament, Israel brought the firstfruits of their harvest as an offering to God. They expressed their gratitude for God’s provision and commemorated Moses receiving the gift of the law on Mount Sinai.
When Christ ascended to the heavenly sanctuary, it is as if he brought an offering of his own blood. He gave himself as the final sacrificial offering for sin. Now, as an expression of our gratitude, we commemorate that sacrifice whenever we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.