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.

The Battle Cry and Prayer for Victory

1
Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also 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 with gladness.
4
Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to the LORD, his name! Rejoice before him! ​
5
A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. ​
6
God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land. ​

God's March Through the Wilderness

7
God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... Selah. ​
8
The earth trembled. The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai— at the presence of God, the God of Israel. ​
9
You, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance, when it was weary.
10
Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.
11
The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company.
12
“Kings of armies flee! They flee!” She who waits at home divides the plunder,
13
while you sleep among the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold. ​
14
When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon. ​

The Ascent to Zion, God's Chosen Dwelling

15
The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged. ​
16
Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, the LORD will dwell there forever. ​
17
The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary. ​
18
You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among men, yes, among the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell there. ​
19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. Selah. ​
20
God is to us a God of deliverance. To the LORD, the Lord, belongs escape from death. ​
21
But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.

Salvation and Judgment of Enemies

22
The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea; ​
23
That you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”

The Triumphal Procession in the Temple

24
They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. ​
25
The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, in the midst of the ladies playing with tambourines,
26
“Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!”
27
There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. ​

Prayer for Strength and Global Submission

28
Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us. ​
29
Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents to you. ​
30
Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Being humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations that delight in war. ​
31
Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God. ​

Praise of the Cosmic King

32
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord! Selah. ​
33
To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice. ​
34
Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies.
35
You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to 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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