Psalm 68: Gifts for his people
(Ephesians 4:1-16)
Paul was reading Psalm 68 when he wrote Ephesians.
He was thinking about how the Holy Spirit is poured out on people in ways never seen before, and how God gives different gifts to build up the whole community.
Rain in abundance O God you showered on us.
In your goodness you’ve provided for those in need.
Paul liked the bit in Psalm 68 where the Lord climbs up to the highest place and is given gifts to celebrate his victory. But Paul turns it around. Instead of the Lord taking the gifts, Paul says, the Lord hands out gifts! And before the Lord was raised up, Paul says, the Lord had to first go deep,
down into death and there he won the battle
and won for us the new life of the Spirit.
Blessed be the Lord who each day lifts us up.
His is the escape from death! Awesome is our God
who gives power and strength to his people.
(Ephesians 4:1-16)
Paul was reading Psalm 68 when he wrote Ephesians.
He was thinking about how the Holy Spirit is poured out on people in ways never seen before, and how God gives different gifts to build up the whole community.
Rain in abundance O God you showered on us.
In your goodness you’ve provided for those in need.
Paul liked the bit in Psalm 68 where the Lord climbs up to the highest place and is given gifts to celebrate his victory. But Paul turns it around. Instead of the Lord taking the gifts, Paul says, the Lord hands out gifts! And before the Lord was raised up, Paul says, the Lord had to first go deep,
down into death and there he won the battle
and won for us the new life of the Spirit.
Blessed be the Lord who each day lifts us up.
His is the escape from death! Awesome is our God
who gives power and strength to his people.
Photo: Stunning flowers in the garden of the church of the Beatitudes, up the hill above Capernaum, Galillee