This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
Summary: Sometimes, the Word of God can seem puzzling. Yet when we come before God in prayer and humility, he is faithful to open our minds to understand his Word.
My wife likes to torture me.
Oh, she doesn’t physically torture me (although she sometimes teases!), but she finds it amusing to buy metal puzzles for me slightly beyond my ability to solve. The torture is trying to figure out how they work. Sometimes they seem to come apart by chance, and when I try to replicate what I did, the puzzle is locked again.
Torture!!
The Bible can feel like a puzzle at times. It is complex, and its puzzle pieces fit together flawlessly. Yet, trying to figure out how the pieces fit together can be … puzzling.
Let’s use today’s passage as an example.
Paul pulls a verse out of Psalm 68, and uses it to explain why we are given grace. Jesus does something similar on the cross when he cries out:
“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (Matthew 27:46)
Jesus is quoting the first line of Psalm 22 which describes how Jesus is feeling while he is dying on the cross. In a similar way, the passage Paul points us to describes what Jesus did on the cross. The whole passage is worth reading, but the part I find especially relevant begins with verse seventeen.
The psalm describes how God (aka Jesus) comes into his sanctuary and from there ascends to heaven. By doing this, he “takes many captives.” This could mean he has released the captives from Satan’s power, or he has captured them from the enemy. Either way, the “captives” are safe with him.
Then the passage talks about “gifts.” Paul translates the Hebrew as “and gave gifts to his people.” The NIV renders the Hebrew as “you received gifts from people.” I think we should defer to Paul’s translation here. Aside from being the Lord’s Apostle, he is a native speaker of both Hebrew and Greek and probably has the best handle on what the Lord’s intent was.
Paul goes on to talk about what “ascended” means and what the “gifts” are. He doesn’t mention the “captives” again, so we are left to wonder. This is where the puzzle comes in.
Looking at Psalm 68 again, I am impressed with the story it tells. In the psalm:
- God’s enemies flee before him, but those who love God are happy and blessed.
- God is father, defender, holy, and friend, and “he leads out the prisoners with singing.” (Verse 6)
- God provides and refreshes. His power is unlimited.
Then we get to the passage that Paul quotes (verse 18).
I can’t speak for the psalmist, but I know from personal experience that God has taken me captive. He has claimed my heart for his own, and I willingly give it. At the same time, he freed me from being a captive of the dark. He freed me from the lies of the Evil One.
This is one prisoner who can vouch for verse six: “He leads out the prisoners with singing.”
Application: When we approach God’s Word with the wonder and openness of a child, insight unfolds and shines forth like a bright light.
Food for Thought: How has God taken you captive?
Through an understanding of the depths of His love for me. Through the cross. When I understood His truth and what He did for me I was hooked.
Rich,
That is a novel way of taking a captive, isn’t it?! Loving someone so much that they give themselves to you. 🙂
Thank you!
06-19-2023, How has God taken you captive?
God has created all things for His purposes. His desire is for all people to by choice, trust in His will over their own. He has written His law in the hearts of all mankind, has sent His Holy Spirit to convict all of sin, righteousness and judgement to come, and in His foreknowledge He has predestined those who will choose to follow Him, as Joshua declared, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”
Proverbs 16:4, Proverbs 3:5, Romans 2:14-16, Romans 8:29, John 16:8, Joshua 24:15
We by personal choice, choose to make ourselves captive, slaves to a master. We will either be slaves to our flesh, confined to living to the standards of this world. Which leads to the self destructive behavior we see in the ungodly surrendering to deadly drug addictions and any physical perversion imagined by mankind. Or we will surrender our will to God, and begin living in submission to His will, choosing to make ourselves captive servants of God, in our lifelong journey of being spiritually sanctified by God to the degree we live in obedience to His will.
2 Corinthians 10:5, We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
1 Peter 2:16, God’s desire is we live as people who are free, not using our freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
2 Timothy 2:26, Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.
I have chosen to be captive to God, His righteousness, and daily, moment by moment seek the power of the Holy Spirit, choosing to be confined to living in God’s will over my own.
Ron,
You make a very important point: We choose to make ourselves captive! Whether good or bad. Well said.
How has God taken you captive?
He takes captive my heart, and what is in my heart takes captive my thoughts, and then my thoughts take captive my actions. I would love to say all the time, but I would be lying. I believe that is part of the renewal of the mind and the grace He offers. I do however pray that I will continue to grow and that He gives me the courage to seek and do His Will. It feels less like captivity though and more like sanctuary. To say “captive” sounds like I don’t have a choice, but the reality of my walk with Him is that He reveals to me the sin in my life and allows me to willingly turn from in. When I do I am more captivated by His love and grace than held captive.
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed”
Poor (in spirit), captive (to self), blind (to truth), oppressed (by sin)…thats pretty much what I brought to the table, God’s turning it around to His Glory. I am held captive in that space of His presence because I dont want to leave it.
Chris,
I love the pun-ish use of “captive-ated.” It is interesting to contrast being captive and being in a sanctuary, too.
Thank you!