Skip to content
Psalms 68

Psalms68

New King James Version

Study

1 Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him.

2 As smoke is driven away, So drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

3 But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.

4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name Yah, And rejoice before Him.

5 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.

6 God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

7 O God, when You went out before Your people, When You marched through the wilderness, Selah

8 The earth shook; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

9 You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, Whereby You confirmed Your inheritance, When it was weary.

10 Your congregation dwelt in it; You, O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor.

11 The Lord gave the word; Great was the company of those who proclaimed it:

12 “Kings of armies flee, they flee, And she who remains at home divides the spoil.

13 Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, You will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her feathers with yellow gold.”

14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, It was white as snow in Zalmon.

15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan.

16 Why do you fume with envy, you mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain which God desires to dwell in; Yes, the Lord will dwell in it forever.

17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, Even thousands of thousands; The Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place.

18 You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, Even from the rebellious, That the Lord God might dwell there.

19 Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah

20 Our God is the God of salvation; And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.

21 But God will wound the head of His enemies, The hairy scalp of the one who still goes on in his trespasses.

22 The Lord said, “I will bring back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,

23 That your foot may crush them in blood, And the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”

24 They have seen Your procession, O God, The procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.

25 The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; Among them were the maidens playing timbrels.

26 Bless God in the congregations, The Lord, from the fountain of Israel.

27 There is little Benjamin, their leader, The princes of Judah and their company, The princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.

28 Your God has commanded your strength; Strengthen, O God, what You have done for us.

29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem, Kings will bring presents to You.

30 Rebuke the beasts of the reeds, The herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples, Till everyone submits himself with pieces of silver. Scatter the peoples who delight in war.

31 Envoys will come out of Egypt; Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God.

32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; Oh, sing praises to the Lord, Selah

33 To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old! Indeed, He sends out His voice, a mighty voice.

34 Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, And His strength is in the clouds.

35 O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!

Study

Psalms 68

Public-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.

Cross References

Psalms 68
v1Numbers 10:35quotation

David begins the Psalm by quoting Moses' prayer when the Ark of the Covenant set forward.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v18Ephesians 4:8-10fulfillment

Paul explicitly quotes verse 18 to describe Christ's triumphant ascension and distribution of gifts.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v7Jude 5:4allusion

Deborah's song shares the exact poetic structure and description of God marching through the wilderness.

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

v8Exodus 19:16-18thematic

Describes the historical shaking of Sinai at the presence of the Lord during the giving of Law.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v4Isaiah 40:3thematic

The command to 'extol him' translates to casting up/preparing a highway for God in the desert.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v11Exodus 15:20thematic

The company of women publishing victory echoes Miriam and the women with timbrels after the Red Sea.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v17Deuteronomy 33:2thematic

Associates the Lord's holy presence among thousands of angels with His arrival at Mount Sinai.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v21Psalms 110:6thematic

Corresponds to Christ wounding/striking through the head (or hairy scalp) of his enemies.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v2Psalms 22:14thematic

Uses the same vivid poetic figure of wax melting to show the collapse of strength before God.

Supported by JFB

v16Psalms 132:13-14thematic

Confirms Zion as the specific hill God has chosen and desired to dwell in forever.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v242 Samuel 6:12-17thematic

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

v7Habakkuk 3:3thematic

Prophetic description of God marching from Teman and Paran, mirroring His march through the wilderness.

Supported by JFB

v7Exodus 13:21thematic

The historical account of God going 'before thy people' in the pillar of cloud and fire.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v30Psalms 2:12thematic

Relates the submission and bringing of silver/presents to the kings submitting to God's anointed Son.

Supported by Matthew Poole