Psalms 68:2

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.

As smoke {H6227} is driven away {H5086}{H8736)}, so drive them away {H5086}{H8799)}: as wax {H1749} melteth {H4549}{H8736)} before {H6440} the fire {H784}, so let the wicked {H7563} perish {H6}{H8799)} at the presence {H6440} of God {H430}.

Drive them away as smoke is driven away; like wax melting in the presence of a fire, let the wicked perish in the presence of God.

As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.

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.

Commentary

Commentary on Psalms 68:2 (KJV)

Psalm 68:2 powerfully describes the ultimate fate of the wicked in the face of God's manifest power. Using vivid imagery from the natural world, the psalmist expresses a fervent plea for divine judgment and deliverance.

Context

Psalm 68 is a grand song of triumph, often associated with a military victory or the procession of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. It celebrates God as a mighty warrior and deliverer of Israel, who scatters His enemies and provides for His people. This verse, therefore, sets the tone for the psalm's triumphant declaration of God's sovereignty and His active role in the affairs of humanity, particularly in dealing with those who oppose Him and His righteous ways. The psalm frequently invokes God's historical acts of salvation, recalling His intervention on behalf of His people, as seen in the Exodus narrative.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment: The verse is a strong declaration of God's righteous judgment against the wicked. It is not merely a wish, but a confident assertion of how God operates.
  • The Vulnerability of the Wicked: The imagery of "smoke driven away" and "wax melteth before the fire" emphasizes the utter insignificance and transient nature of those who oppose God. Their strength is nothing compared to His.
  • God's Omnipotence and Presence: The core message is that God's mere "presence" is sufficient to cause the wicked to "perish." His being, His active manifestation, is a force that cannot be withstood. This resonates with the concept of God as a consuming fire.
  • Deliverance for the Righteous: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the perishing of the wicked inherently implies the security and triumph of God's people.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "presence" is paniym (نۏليللللل), often translated as "face" or "countenance." When used in the context of God, it signifies His direct, active, and personal manifestation. It implies not just being in the vicinity, but a powerful, unmediated encounter with the Divine. The term for "wicked" is rasha (لللللللل), referring to those who are guilty, unrighteous, or impious, specifically those who actively defy God's law and authority.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound comfort and warning. For believers, it serves as a powerful reminder that God is ultimately in control. When facing opposition or injustice, we can trust that God will, in His time and way, deal with the wicked. This provides assurance and strengthens faith, knowing that the "way of the ungodly shall perish," as stated in Psalm 1:6. For those who may be living in opposition to God, it is a sober warning that His power is absolute, and His presence brings judgment upon unrighteousness. It calls for humility, repentance, and a turning towards Him.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Micah 1:4

    And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, [and] as the waters [that are] poured down a steep place.

  • Psalms 37:20

    But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD [shall be] as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

  • Psalms 97:5

    The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

  • Hosea 13:3

    Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff [that] is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

  • Isaiah 9:18

    For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up [like] the lifting up of smoke.

  • Psalms 80:16

    [It is] burned with fire, [it is] cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.

  • Revelation 6:16

    And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: