Psalms68
New Living Translation
1 Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies. Let those who hate God run for their lives.
2 Blow them away like smoke. Melt them like wax in a fire. Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
3 But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy.
4 Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord— rejoice in his presence!
5 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
6 God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
7 O God, when you led your people out from Egypt, when you marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude
8 the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain before you, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
9 You sent abundant rain, O God, to refresh the weary land.
10 There your people finally settled, and with a bountiful harvest, O God, you provided for your needy people.
11 The Lord gives the word, and a great army brings the good news.
12 Enemy kings and their armies flee, while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
13 Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures— doves with wings of silver and feathers of gold.
14 The Almighty scattered the enemy kings like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic, with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
16 Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains, at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live, where the Lord himself will live forever?
17 Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots, the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.
18 When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against you. Now the Lord God will live among us there.
19 Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude
20 Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.
21 But God will smash the heads of his enemies, crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.
22 The Lord says, “I will bring my enemies down from Bashan; I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
23 You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood, and even your dogs will get their share!”
24 Your procession has come into view, O God— the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.
25 Singers are in front, musicians behind; between them are young women playing tambourines.
26 Praise God, all you people of Israel; praise the Lord, the source of Israel’s life.
27 Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way. Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.
28 Summon your might, O God. Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.
29 The kings of the earth are bringing tribute to your Temple in Jerusalem.
30 Rebuke these enemy nations— these wild animals lurking in the reeds, this herd of bulls among the weaker calves. Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute. Scatter the nations that delight in war.
31 Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals; let Ethiopia bring tribute to God.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth. Sing praises to the Lord. Interlude
33 Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens, his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
34 Tell everyone about God’s power. His majesty shines down on Israel; his strength is mighty in the heavens.
35 God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to 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