Psalms68
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; Let them also that hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: As wax melteth before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God: Yea, let them rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: Cast up a highway for him that rideth through the deserts; His name is Jehovah; and exult ye before him.
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, Is God in his holy habitation.
6 God setteth the solitary in families: He bringeth out the prisoners into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, When thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah
8 The earth trembled, The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God: Yon Sinai trembled at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, Thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10 Thy congregation dwelt therein: Thou, O God, didst prepare of thy goodness for the poor.
11 The Lord giveth the word: The women that publish the tidings are a great host.
12 Kings of armies flee, they flee; And she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.
13 When ye lie among the sheepfolds, It is as the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings therein, It was as when it snoweth in Zalmon.
15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; A high mountain is the mountain of Bashan.
16 Why look ye askance, ye high mountains, At the mountain which God hath desired for his abode? Yea, Jehovah will dwell in it for ever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands: The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the sanctuary.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led away captives; Thou hast received gifts among men, Yea, among the rebellious also, that Jehovah God might dwell with them.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily beareth our burden, Even the God who is our salvation. Selah
20 God is unto us a God of deliverances; And unto Jehovah the Lord belongeth escape from death.
21 But God will smite through the head of his enemies, The hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his guiltiness.
22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring them again from the depths of the sea;
23 That thou mayest crush them, dipping thy foot in blood, That the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from thine enemies.
24 They have seen thy goings, O God, Even the goings of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25 The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, In the midst of the damsels playing with timbrels.
26 Bless ye God in the congregations, Even the Lord, ye that are of the fountain of Israel.
27 There is little Benjamin their ruler, The princes of Judah and their council, The princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength: Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem Kings shall bring presents unto thee.
30 Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, The multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples, Trampling under foot the pieces of silver: He hath scattered the peoples that delight in war.
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste to stretch out her hands unto God.
32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; Oh sing praises unto the Lord; Selah
33 To him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens, which are of old; Lo, he uttereth his voice, a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: His excellency is over Israel, And his strength is in the skies.
35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: The God of Israel, he giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.
Study
Psalms 68Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 68. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: A prayer—The greatness and goodness of God. (1–6). The wonderful works God wrought for his people. (7–14). The presence of God in his church. (15–21). The victories of Christ. (22–28). Enlargement of the church. (29–31). The glory and grace of God. (32–35).
vv1-6
None ever hardened his heart against God, and prospered. God is the joy of his people, then let them rejoice when they come before him. He who derives his being from none, but gives being to all, is engaged by promise and covenant to bless his people. He is to be praised as a God of mercy and tender compassion. He ever careth for the afflicted and oppressed: repenting sinners, who are helpless and exposed more than any fatherless children, are admitted into his family, and share all their blessings.
vv7-14
Fresh mercies should put us in mind of former mercies. If God bring his people into a wilderness, he will be sure to go before them in it, and to bring them out of it. He provided for them, both in the wilderness and in Canaan. The daily manna seems here meant. And it looks to the spiritual provision for God's Israel. The Spirit of grace and the gospel of grace are the plentiful rain, with which God confirms his inheritance, and from which their fruit is found. Christ shall come as showers that water the earth. The account of Israel's victories is to be applied to the victories over death and hell, by the exalted Redeemer, for those that are his. Israel in Egypt among the kilns appeared wretched, but possessed of Canaan, during the reigns of David and Solomon, appeared glorious. Thus the slaves of Satan, when converted to Christ, when justified and sanctified by him, look honourable. When they reach heaven, all remains of their sinful state disappear, they shall be as the wings of the dove, covered with silver, and her feathers as gold. Full salvation will render those white as snow, who were vile and loathsome through the guilt and defilement of sin.
vv15-21
The ascension of Christ must here be meant, and thereto it is applied, Eph 4:8. He received as the purchase of his death, the gifts needful for the conversion of sinners, and the salvation of believers. These he continually bestows, even on rebellious men, that the Lord God might dwell among them, as their Friend and Father. He gave gifts to men. Having received power to give eternal life, the Lord Jesus bestows it on as many as were given him, Joh 17:2. Christ came to a rebellious world, not to condemn it, but that through him it might be saved. The glory of Zion's King is, that he is a Saviour and Benefactor to all his willing people, and a consuming fire to all that persist in rebellion against him. So many, so weighty are the gifts of God's bounty, that he may be truly said to load us with them. He will not put us off with present things for a portion, but will be the God of our salvation. The Lord Jesus has authority and power to rescue his people from the dominion of death, by taking away the sting of it from them when they die, and giving them complete victory over it when they rise again. The crown of the head, the chief pride and glory of the enemy, shall be smitten; Christ shall crush the head of the serpent.
Key Words
נָצַח: properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
מִזְמוֹר: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
שִׁיר: a song; abstractly, singing
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
קוּם: to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
אֹיֵב: hating; an adversary
פּוּץ: to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse)
שָׂנֵא: to hate (personally)
נוּס: to flit, i.e. vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)
Cross References
Psalms 68David begins the Psalm by quoting Moses' prayer when the Ark of the Covenant set forward.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Paul explicitly quotes verse 18 to describe Christ's triumphant ascension and distribution of gifts.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Deborah's song shares the exact poetic structure and description of God marching through the wilderness.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Describes the historical shaking of Sinai at the presence of the Lord during the giving of Law.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The command to 'extol him' translates to casting up/preparing a highway for God in the desert.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The company of women publishing victory echoes Miriam and the women with timbrels after the Red Sea.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Associates the Lord's holy presence among thousands of angels with His arrival at Mount Sinai.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Corresponds to Christ wounding/striking through the head (or hairy scalp) of his enemies.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Uses the same vivid poetic figure of wax melting to show the collapse of strength before God.
Supported by JFB
Confirms Zion as the specific hill God has chosen and desired to dwell in forever.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Records the actual historical event of David bringing the Ark (God's goings) to the sanctuary.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Connects blessing the Lord 'from the fountain of Israel' with Moses' blessing on Israel's fountain.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels God riding upon the heavens in His excellency and sending forth His mighty voice.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic description of God marching from Teman and Paran, mirroring His march through the wilderness.
Supported by JFB
The historical account of God going 'before thy people' in the pillar of cloud and fire.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Relates the submission and bringing of silver/presents to the kings submitting to God's anointed Son.
Supported by Matthew Poole