Psalms68

Psalms 68 is a triumphant psalm celebrating God's power and victory over His enemies. It recounts His mighty acts from the Exodus and Sinai to His dwelling in Zion, where He protects the vulnerable and bestows blessings. The psalm culminates in a vision of all nations acknowledging God's supreme authority and bringing Him praise.
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The Battle Cry and Prayer for Victory

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. ​

God's March Through the Wilderness

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 asthe wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold. ​
14
When the Almighty scattered kings therein, It was as whenit snoweth in Zalmon. ​

The Ascent to Zion, God's Chosen Dwelling

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.

Salvation and Judgment of Enemies

22
The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bringthem 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.

The Triumphal Procession in the Temple

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. ​

Prayer for Strength and Global Submission

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. ​

Praise of the Cosmic King

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 Notes for Psalms 68

Verse 1

This verse opens with the ancient battle cry used when the Ark of the Covenant was moved (Numbers 10:35), invoking God's appearance to scatter enemies.

Verse 4

The name 'JAH' (Yah) is the shortened, sacred form of the divine covenant name Yahweh, emphasizing God’s eternal existence and sovereignty.

Verse 5

God is characterized as the compassionate defender of the most vulnerable members of society (orphans and widows), establishing a foundational theme of social justice.

Verse 6

This verse contrasts God’s provision for the isolated and imprisoned with the fate of the rebellious, who are left to suffer in barrenness.

Verse 7

The psalm shifts to recalling the Exodus journey, establishing that the current triumph is consistent with God's powerful historical deliverance.

Verse 8

The imagery of the earth shaking and the heavens dropping emphasizes the terrifying manifestation of God’s glory (Theophany) at Mount Sinai.

Verse 13

This is an image of transformation: those who were oppressed or lowly (lying among the soot of the cooking pots) are now delivered, purified, and adorned with glory.

Verse 14

Salmon (or Zalmon) was a mountain likely covered in snow. The victory over kings was so decisive that the battlefield appeared bright and white, symbolizing complete triumph.

Verse 15

Bashan refers to the majestic, high mountains of the Transjordan (like Hermon). The psalmist uses this image to set up a contrast with Zion.

Verse 16

Mount Zion, though geographically less imposing than Bashan, is declared superior because God sovereignly chose it as the eternal location for His presence.

Verse 17

The 'chariots of God' describe the immense heavenly host (thousands of angels) accompanying the Lord, mirroring the glorious presence seen at Sinai, now resident in Zion.

Verse 18

This crucial verse describes the victorious King ascending His throne, leading captured prisoners and receiving tribute ('gifts') from the vanquished, establishing His permanent residence among His people. Paul applies this to Christ's ascension (Eph 4:8).

Verse 19

A doxology praising God for his continuous, daily provision and role as the ultimate source of salvation.

Verse 20

God is affirmed as the ultimate power, holding the absolute dominion over life and death ('issues from death').

Verse 22

God promises universal victory, reclaiming His people from threats represented by Bashan (enemies to the northeast) and the deep sea (ancient chaos/Exodus enemies).

Verse 24

The focus shifts to the immediate setting: the procession of the Ark or a victory parade entering the Temple sanctuary in Jerusalem.

Verse 27

Representative tribes are listed (Benjamin, Judah, Zebulun, Naphtali). This emphasizes the unity of all Israel, from both the south and the far north, participating in worship.

Verse 28

The psalm transitions to a communal prayer, asking God to confirm and continue the strength and deliverance He has already displayed.

Verse 29

The expectation is that the fame of God's presence in Jerusalem will motivate foreign kings to bring tribute and homage.

Verse 30

The 'multitude of the bulls' and 'calves' likely symbolize the powerful and arrogant leaders of hostile nations. The prayer is for their humiliation until they submit with tribute.

Verse 31

A prophetic vision that major world powers (Egypt and Cush/Ethiopia) will soon submit to Yahweh, demonstrating the psalm's universal scope.

Verse 32

The psalm concludes with a universal call, inviting all the kingdoms of the earth to join Israel in praising God.

Verse 33

Riding upon the 'heavens of heavens' emphasizes God's transcendence and cosmic domain, confirming His absolute sovereignty over all creation.

Verse 35

The concluding blessing reaffirms that the fearful power of God, demonstrated in His sanctuary, is the source of strength and might for His covenant people, Israel.

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