Old Testament Commentary - Psalms 68

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 68 A Messianic Psalm of David—He extols JAH—The Lord gave the word—He takes captivity captive—Unto him belong the issues from death—Sing praises unto the Lord.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David.
1 LET God arise, let his enemies be ^ascattered: let them also that ^bhate him flee before him. 2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as ^awax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the ^bpresence of God. 3 But let the ^arighteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name^a: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name ^aJAH, and rejoice before him. 5 A father of the ^afatherless, and a ^bjudge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.	4^a sing praises to his name Perhaps as an example of taking a thing to far, far beyond its intend, is the Jewish tradition of not speaking aloud the name of God. Certainly his name ought not be taken in vain or spoien lightly and casually as an explative, but never was it the intent to totally ban the speaking of the name of God. Here David so speaks that in praise and reverence, with true intent, is the name of God to be said and sany. 'Sing praises to his name.' And we do speak the name of God. Here a short form 'JAH' stands for the namd JEHOVAH or perhaps even the extended name given him by the Father, JEHOSHUA. Yes we speak God's name as we speak particularly of him in truth, in reverence, in paise and in true intent; fully devoted to him and in honor of him.
6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the ^arebellious dwell in a dry land. 7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst ^amarch through the wilderness; Selah:
8 The earth shook, the heavens also ^adropped at the presence of God: even ^bSinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. 9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful ^arain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. 10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. 12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil. 13 Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as 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 Salmon. 15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan. 16 Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. 18 Thou hast ^aascended on high, thou hast led ^bcaptivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. 19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
20 He that is our God is the God of ^asalvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from ^bdeath. 21 But God shall ^awound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses. 22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea: 23 That thy foot may be dipped in the ^ablood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
24 They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary. 25 The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels. 26 Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, ^afrom the fountain of Israel.
27 ^aThere is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and 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 shall kings bring ^apresents unto thee.
30 Rebuke the ^acompany of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war. 31 Princes shall come out of ^aEgypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. 32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice. 34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. 35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.