* The artwork title is "The Ark of the Covenant with the Divine Glory". The artwork is in the Isaiah Bible.
Benjamin Franklin called Isaiah Thomas the "Baskerville of America." Thomas was one of the most notable Bible publishers in the early Republic. He began his business in Boston, where he was publisher of the newspaper Massachusetts Spy. At the beginning of the Revolution, he moved his business to Worcester.
In planning his 1791 folio Bible, Thomas made a special effort to print a correct text for His Bible and examined over thirty copies of the King James Version, printed at different times by different publishers, to determine the best text. Several leading clergymen also examined his text.
All of the engravings Thomas commissioned for his folio Bible were executed by American engravers.
On the top of each of the plates in the body of the work is inscribed - "Engraved for Thomas' Edition of the Bible."
Previous to printing this edition of the Scriptures, Mr. Thomas, the editor, furnished himself with nearly thirty copies of the Bible, printed at different times and places; from these he selected the most correct , by which to revise the whole of this work. Every sheet of the text, before its commitment to the press, was carefully examined by the clergymen of Worcester [the Rev. Aaron Bancroft, D.D., and the Rev. Samuel Austin, D.D.], and by other capable persons, and compared with not less than eight different copies.
>1. Who is the author and what is the psalm called? What is the author asking God to do? Why? What event is this referencing? (Numbers 10:35)
* Psalm 68:1 "May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him."
* The title is, "For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song," a common title found in the Psalter. The KJV has "To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David." GW and CSB have "For the choir director; a psalm by David; a song." YLT has "To the Overseer. --A Psalm, a song of David."
* Psalm 68 is the last of a series of four psalms; 65-68.
* The psalm is composed of nine stanzas with a concluding doxology (1-3, 4-6, 7-10, 11-14, 15-18, 19-23, 24-27, 28-31, and 32-35 is the doxology. A doxology is an expression of praise to God. However, most scholars will agree that where a stanza begins and ends can be hard to determine in Hebrew poetry. Even the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew written over two hundred years before Jesus was not "consistent" on where the breaks were.
* Something to consider when reading and meditating on this and any psalm. The Psalms are impassioned, vivid and concrete; they are rich in images, in simile and metaphor. Assonance, alteration, and wordplay abound in the Hebrew text and this psalm has many examples. Hebrew poetry paints imaginative pictures with playful word play.
Hebrew poetry lacks rhyme and regular meter such as western poetry, even in the original Hebrew. This makes the psalms, especially like this one, harder for modern western readers to understand. Its most distinctive and pervasive feature is parallelism, for example the four mountains in verses 14 through 17, then add to that the Lord's ultimate ascension in verse 18 as revealed by Apostle Paul. So the choice of words and sentence structure is important when translating from Hebrew into another language.
Most poetic lines are composed of two (sometimes three) balanced segments (the balance is often loose, with the second segment commonly somewhat shorter than the first) like verses 1 through 3 record two responses to God rising to move, his enemies and the righteous. The second segment either echoes (synonymous parallelism), contrasts (antithetic parallelism) or syntactically completes (synthetic parallelism) the first. These three types are generalizations and are not wholly adequate to describe the rich variety that the Holy Spirit inspired creativity of the poets has achieved within the basic two-segment line structure.
* Saying that this is a beautiful and yet complex psalm is an understatement. Even the best admired scholars admit this. I have quoted some below. However, referring to some of their comments, references to other Bible passages, and heavily relying on the Holy Spirit's inspiration to Apostle Paul, I have written some of my many thoughts on this truly magnificent psalm.
* Psalm 68 is considered a processional liturgy celebrating the glorious and triumphant rule of Israel's God as are Psalms 24, 47, 118 and 132. Paul quoted verse 18 either repeating what they already believed or introducing something new. Paul's quote is in Ephesians 4:8-13. The Ephesian's quote presents that Psalm 68 is about Jesus' human birth, glorious and triumphal resurrection and ascension into heaven in order to fill the whole universe, and Jesus giving each Christian missions and spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ. Those who believe in Jesus are Christ's body.
* A clear understanding is that this is a processional-psalm. Being a processional psalm it is also a praise-psalm. The title says that it is also a song-psalm. A unique characteristic of this psalm is that it is also a prophetic-psalm.
The psalm deals with four times that the Lord was on the move. The first three deal with the ark of the covenant which was created at Mount Sinai and lost either at the Babylon or Roman destruction of the Temple. The Babylon destruction is assumed by most. The ark represented the presence of the Lord God.
1) The ark, representing God's presence among Israel, moving from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion; all the while resting in a tent with the exception when it was in a building at Shiloh (Joshua 18:1,8; 1 Samuel 1:3, 4:4; Psalm 78:59-66). The final move in this "tent trek" was started by David until a man touched the ark and died. David was so afraid that he left the ark sit there for awhile. This was at the homestead of Obed-edom. David finally finished moving the ark to the City of David on Mount Zion and placed it in a new tent that he had constructed for it.
2) The ark moved from the tent on Mount Zion where David placed it to the temple in Mount Zion erected by his son Solomon. Some believe David wrote this psalm for this occasion as well as for the move to Mount Zion (above).
3) The Lord Jesus ascending to heaven after his resurrection. The Spirit of God being sent by Jesus to the Lord's people on Pentecost (18; Ephesians 4:7-16).
4) The Lord Jesus coming again in glory at the end of the age to judge and give rewards.
* David wrote this Psalm, no doubt arises in my mind, heart, and soul. Some claim it was someone else at some other time with no reasoning and no one named. A few give multiple suggestions with no facts to back them up. I am always annoyed by this tactic that comes from pride. Albert Barnes in his very studious "Bible Commentary - Psalms Volume 2" points out six unrefutable reasons why David wrote this psalm. He concludes, "The psalm was composed, therefore, I apprehend, when the ark was brought up from the house of Obed-edom, and placed in the city of David, in the tent or tabernacle which he had erected for it there (2 Samuel 6:12; 1 Chronicles 15). It is not improbable that other psalms, also, were composed for this occasion, as it was one of great solemnity."
Understanding that David wrote it we should ask, "What did David know about the Messiah?" Why does this need to be ask? Because some are confused by Apostle Paul's interpretation of verse 18. He quotes from the Septuagint, not the Hebrew. The seventy Jewish translators of the Septuagint are then challenged by some because of their translation of one word from Hebrew to Greek (received and gave). This seems ridiculous to me to address since my time and energy is short and I totally am convinced of the complete power of the Holy Spirit.
Another reason to address this is because this psalm takes time to understand since it concerns multiple subjects, especially and most importantly, why all generations, including mine should praise God. If the psalm was just about the ark being moved from Obed-edom's homestead to the City of David and from the tent to the temple, then what interest is it to my generation? However, if Apostle Paul was indeed inspired by the Holy Spirit, then this Psalm sounds louder than the noise of thousands of thousands of chariots.
So, did David know much about the Messiah? Did he understand what the Holy Spirit was inspiring him to write? Oh yes, he did more than anyone before him, and anyone in his time, even more than many today. Consider for a day all that David was inspired to write about the Messiah in the Psalms. The Apostles quote David more than others, and he wrote so much more about the Messiah than they quote. Then consider what the prophet Nathan said to David and David's response to his words. "When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever." (2 Samuel 7:12-16)
David knew this was about the Messiah for which one of his sons was righteous? Not even Solomon. Then he wrote, "The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a stool for your feet." Even in this psalm he claims the work of his Sovereign Lord is the work only God can do, "Our God saves, from Lord comes escape from death." And referring to God's promise in the Garden of Eve, "God will crush the heads of his enemies." David had some understanding that this psalm, although written about the moving of the ark, was also about the Messiah, who is also the Lord God of the ark.
* The first stanza (1-3) is the start of the grand procession, recalling the beginning of God's march with his people in army formation from Mount Sinai (Numbers 10:33-35), from the homestead of Obed-edom, from the tent, and Jesus' second coming.
* Adam Clarke wrote in his commentary, "I know not how to undertake a comment on this Psalm: it is the most difficult in the whole Psalter; and I cannot help adopting the opinion of Simon De Muis, 'In this Psalm there are as many precipices and labyrinths as there are verses or words. It may not be improperly termed, the torture of critics, and the reproach of commentators.'"
* Matthew Henry wrote in his commentary, "This is a most excellent psalm, but in many places the genuine sense is not easy to come at; for in this, as in some other scriptures, there are things dark and hard to be understood."
* Commentary on the Holman Bible has, "This is one of the grandest of the Psalms, but its origin and date are involved in much obscurity."
* Matthew Poole's, "A New Commentary of the Holy Bible" has, "...Nor is it at all strange that in the same Psalm there is such a mixture of things, whereof some belong only to the actions or events of that time, and some only to Christ and the gospel times, if it be considered that the psalmist in himself doth frequently express divers, and those contrary, passions and dispositions, as hope and fear, &c., in the same Psalm, and sometimes in the same verse, and especially that the sacred penmen in the composition of these writings were men wholly inspired, and governed, and moved by the Holy Ghost, 2 Pet. 1:21, by whom they were variously transported, as he saw fit, and sometimes carried away to speak of the highest mysteries of the gospel, even such things as they themselves did not fully understand, as appears from 1 Pet. 1:10, 11. (Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible, vol. 2 (New York: Robert Carter and Brothers, 1853), 102.
* Numbers 10:35 records Moses saying the same as verse 1 when the ark was moved. Numbers 10:35-36 says, "Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, 'Rise up, O LORD! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you.' Whenever it came to rest, he said, 'Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel.'"
* "May God arise" -God in the original Hebrew is "Elohim" (a transliteration) and "arise" is "qum", a primitive root verb. God is getting up to go to another place. For Israel, the Lord God is leaving Mount Sinai to lead his people Israel to the promised land. For David and later his son Solomon, God is getting up to go to his new footstool which is first the tabernacle, then the temple. For the Church, Jesus, the Son of God, left this world to lead his people and give us the gifts of the Spirit so that we may edify other Christians and peoples (18, 35).
* "enemies.. foes" -Verse 30 refers to Pharaoh as "the beast among the reeds" with his "herd of bulls", and the "nations who delight in war". The book of Revelation speaks of Babylon the Great that all the nations, especially "their kings and merchants have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries and became rich from her excessive luxuries" (Revelation 17:1-5, 18, 18:1-3, 10-12, 24). Revelations 19:11-21 speaks of a Rider on the White Horse that defeats the enemies of God. Jesus is the rider leading the victory procession.
* Ezekiel 30:25-26 "I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he brandishes it against Egypt. I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the LORD."
* Psalm 7:6-8 "Arise, O LORD, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice. Let the assembled peoples gather around you. Rule over them from on high; let the LORD judge the peoples. Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High."
* Our Mighty God.
Psalm 68 is considered one of the processional psalms. David is the writer of this psalm. The psalm declares the mighty God of Israel who "rides on the clouds" (4).
The psalm begins similarly to the declaration prayer Moses gave whenever the ark set out while they were in the desert. He said, "Rise up, O LORD! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you." (Numbers 10:35) A difference is that Psalm 68 is asking God to rise up and scatter his foes.
Apostle Paul quotes from this psalm (18) in his letter to the Ephesians, chapter 4:8-13, thus relating that this psalm is not only about the time of Moses and David. This psalm is also about Paul's time as well as the present. The psalm reveals the nature of God with his people throughout the ages.
Psalm 68 is related to the Lord God's promise to Abraham, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:3) Thus, the promise is for all those who call on his name by faith. Those who make themselves my enemy, God will curse. Arise God, and scatter your enemies as smoke is blown away by the wind.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 68 introduction.
* The Destruction of Pharaoh's Army during the Red Sea crossing. The artwork is in the 1890 Holman Bible.
>What two analogies does David use to illustrate what he is asking God to do? (2) What does this illustrate concerning God? About his enemies?
* Psalm 68:2 "As smoke is blown away by the wind, may you blow them away; as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God."
* "As smoke is blown away by the wind" -Some smoke does not smell good and can harm and kill. However, smoke can easily be moved by wind.
* "wax melts before the fire" -Wax in ages past was made of animal fat and burned to provide light. Once wax, when used is gone forever, never to return.
* The analogy of wax melting is also in Psalm 22:14 where the author is speaking of his heart melting away like wax. Psalm 97:5 and Micah 1:4 use melting wax as an analogy of the mountains melting before the Lord.
* "may you blow them away" -Dissipate to nothing. C.S. Lewis wrote a short book where the wicked became so small that they fell between the cracks of the street bricks, the evil doers ever getting farther apart because of their fear, selfishness, and self-isolation.
* "the wicked" -"Wicked" is the adjective "rasha" in the original Hebrew (a transliteration) meaning "morally wrong", "a bad person" as an egg can be bad, and "the guilty and ungodly person that did wrong".
* "perish" -"Perish" is the primitive root verb "abad" is the original Hebrew (a transliteration) having many meanings. It is used one hundred and eighty four times in the Old Testament. It's important to note that the specific context of the Old Testament text determines the precise nuance of "abad". The context here is the contrast between the righteous and those who are not. Ninety-eight times the KJV translates "abab" as "perish".
>Who does the psalm focus on next? What does it mean to be righteous? How are they to be? Is this self-generated gladness and joy? Is it generated because of what had happened and is happening? (Galatians 5:22; Hebrew 1:9, 12:2; 1 Peter 1:8)
* Psalm 68:3 "But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful."
* "the righteous" -Israel as the committed people of God is distinction from those opposed to the coming of God's kingdom (the "wicked" of verse 2). (NIV Study Bible)
* Galatians 5:22, "But the fruit of the Spirit is... joy."
* Hebrews 1:8-9 "But about the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.'"
* Hebrews 12:2 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
* 1 Peter 1:8-9 "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
* Continuing the theme of God arising and moving out in verse one, the psalm looks at the impulse response of the righteous.
* Reactions to God.
The Lord God is on the move. During the time of Moses, the Lord God moved from Mount Sinai to the promised land, leading his people all the way. During the time of David, the Lord God moved from the household of Obed-Edom to a tent David had pitched in the City of David (2 Samuel 6:12, 17). During the time of Solomon, the Lord God moved from the tent to the newly constructed temple (1 Kings 6:19, 8:3-7, 21). During the time of the Apostles, the Lord God moved from the temple to his people's souls with signs of a wind and tongues of fire resting on their heads (Acts 2:1-4).
People's reactions depended on what they believed. The enemies scattered. Using poetic description, David says they were like smoke blown away by the wind and wax that melts before the fire. They were no more, no matter how powerful they were. There was much mourning and weeping when they saw the glory of the Lord and the kingdom of God, and they were not welcome.
The righteous were glad at the Lord's moving. They rejoiced before God. They were happy. For them, it was a good day. They were treated like orphans and widows, the lowest of society in those days. They were lonely and prisoners for his namesake. They were persecuted, mistreated, and killed by the enemies of God. The Lord is arising to set the captives free.
The psalm is also foretelling a scene when Jesus will come again. The same two reactions will happen again. Jesus will arise and come with righteousness in his hand and judgment on his lips. The enemies of God will blow away like smoke in the wind. They will melt like wax before a fire. While the righteous will be glad and rejoice. Their master, king, and bridegroom is coming to establish his kingdom. Your kingdom come. Your will be done. What will your reaction be
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 68:1-3.
>2. What are the righteous instructed to do? (4)
* Psalm 68:4, "Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds-- his name is the LORD-- and rejoice before him."
* The second stanza, 4 through 6, are a call for the righteous of verse 3 to praise God for the benevolence of his rule. A call to praise God and sing is repeated several times (19, 26, 34, 35) in this psalm making it one of the central themes. Actually, the other themes are the supporting reason for praise and song.
* "Sing... sing praises... extol... rejoice" -A look at the original Hebrew verbs in this verse.
* "God... his name... his name is the LORD... him." -A look at the original Hebrew subjects (nouns).
* "rides on the clouds." In Ugaritic epic literature (of Semitic origins in western Syria on the Mediterranean Sea from 1450 to 1195 B.C. with a violent earthquake) the storm god Baal is regularly referred to as the "rider of the clouds." References can be found in both the Baal and Anat cycle and in the story of the hero Aqhat. This image of power over the winds and weather comes into the Psalms as another example of how the stories from other cultures have been restructured to demonstrate Yahweh's universal control over nature and nations (see Ps 104:3; Jer 4:13). It also serves as a polemic against belief in any other god who might be thought to provide the fertility God promises in the covenant. (Bible Background Commentary - The IVP Bible Background Commentary - Old Testament.)
* "clouds" -Some English translations have "through the deserts" and is an NIV text note, which leaves the above comment useless and wrong.
The original Hebrew is "araba" which is usually translated as "plain" and then second as "desert" by the KJV. However, here the KJV translates "araba" as "heavens", which is the only place the KJV does so for some unknown reason. No other English translation that I have uses "heavens" here.
Since the psalm is reflecting back to the ark's traverse from Mount Sinai to the promised land, "desert" would be an understandable translation. All English translations do so directly or as a text not, except the KJV.
* "LORD" -"YAH" in the original Hebrew, contracted for "Yehovah". YAH is used in only a few places in the Bible.
>Why? Look at three reasons in verse 5.
* Psalm 68:5 "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling."
* "A father to the fatherless" -Perhaps, David was thinking of himself for many believe that he was born of another woman than his elder brothers' mother, and thus the reason they kept giving him a hard time. Also, if true, this would be explain why his father assigned him the most unwanted job, herding the sheep. David would have felt fatherless.
* "a defender of widows" -The Mosaic law protected widows (see quotes below), but most societies ignored any laws that protected them including Israel society in those days, not much different than most modern societies today.
* "is God in his holy dwelling" -This is referring to the temple, whether in a tent, the building Solomon built, the heavens, God's people, or all of heaven and earth.
* Psalm 10:14
* Deuteronomy 10:18
>Then, three more reasons in verse 6.
* Psalm 68:6 "God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land."
* "sets the lonely in families" -NIV text note says "or 'the desolate in a homeland'". KJV and the ASV (the KJV first revision or update) translates the Hebrew, "setteth the solitary in families". The HCSB, Holman Christian Standard Bible, (the NT published in 1999 and all 66 books in 2004), and its replacement the 2017 Christian Standard Bible, have "provides homes for those who are deserted". GW (God's Word) has "places lonely people in families". Young's Literal Translation published in 1862 as an extremely literal translation has, "causing the lonely to dwell at home".
* "he leads forth the prisoners with singing" -See Isaiah 61:1-4 (Jesus said he fulfilled this) and Psalm 146:7.
* the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land." -Considering that 6b is the end of the second stanza (4-6 being the total), then it is the second segment, a contrast the first segment (antithetic parallelism).
* Reasons to Sing.
The fatherless have a reason to sing praise to God. The widows have a reason to sing praise to God. The lonely homeless have a reason to sing praise to God. Prisoners have a reason to sing praise to God. God is coming. God is their father, defender, holy dwelling, friend, and freedom bearer. Sing resolute you who are secluded. Praise your Savior.
Early in his ministry, Jesus entered his hometown synagogue, was asked to speak, and handed the scroll of Isaiah. He opened it to a specific passage and read for the world to hear, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Then he rolled up the scroll and said to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
The rebellious were enraged. They liked the status quo. They controlled others, caring little for their sorry conditions. Their only tears were for themselves. They prided themselves on their evil ways. They were enemies of God. They oppressed others for selfish gain. Jesus' coming marks their end in sun-scorched land.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 68:4-6.
>3. Who leads, the Lord or his people? How is this different than human armies? Where were they marching through? (7)
* Psalm 68:7 "When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland, Selah"
* The third stanza, verses 7 through 10, is a recollection of God's march through the desert from Mount Sinai into the promised land (Judges 5:4-5, Habakkuk 3:3-6).
* "When you went out before your people" -God led his people Israel like a parent leads their children and a hen leads her chicks. God always leads his people. He never walks behind them.
* "O God," -The original Hebrew is "Elohim" same all previous verses except verse 4 which was "YAH".
* "when you marched through the wasteland" -Again referring to the Lord leading Israel through the desert from Mount Sinai to the promised land.
* David is about to tell what the Lord God did for Israel as he lead then through the desert.
>What happened? Why?
* Psalm 68:8 "the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel."
* "the earth shook" -A reference to the quaking of Mount Sinai when the Israelites were summoned to appear before the Lord (Exodus 19:18).
When Jesus died on the cross and his spirit was released into the hands of God the earth shook. (Matthew 27:50-51; Mark 15:37-38;Luke 23:45-46)
* "the heavens poured down rain" -The books of Moses, the first five called the Pentateuch, give no reference of rain during the desert wanderings. However, Judges 5:4-5 does. David would have read Judges as well as the Pentateuch. He almost directly quotes from the Song of Deborah in Judges 5. "God" is in place of "LORD" there and "wasteland" in place of "land of Edom" there. Judges 5:4-5, "O LORD, when you went out from Seir (Mount Sinai), when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water. The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel."
Thunder and lightening is stated in the Pentateuch (Exodus 19:16-18). Perhaps rain was present and those generations knew it even though Moses did not record it. Then, the Holy Spirit wanted Deborah to preserve it for future generations. So he inspired her to sing it and write it down.
When Jesus hung on the cross the sky was dark for three hours. We are not told how, but the most logical is that thick clouds covered the sky. Rain must have been part of it. (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44)
* Psalm 77:12-20 also recalls the Lord God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt with an earthquake, rain, lightening, and thunder from within the whirlwind.
* The Lord did these things at Mount Sinai so that Israel may fear the Lord and keep his commandments for their own benefit, not his (Deuteronomy 6:2, 13, 24, 7:19, 10:12, 20, 11:25, 28:10, 31:12-13).
* "before God, the One of Sinai" -Deborah sang the same. Placing the God of Sinai as the same God who is the God who makes the ark his footstool on earth. Sinai was where the covenant between the Lord God and Israel was made. They agreed to obey his commands and he agreed to be their God. Jesus made a covenant with is disciples at the Last Supper.
* "before God, the God of Israel" -The Lord God and Israel had made a covenant at Mount Sinai. He promised to be their God. Here he states it. I am "the God of Israel".
>Why did God give rain? (9)
* Psalm 68:9 "You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance."
* "You gave abundant showers" -God supplied water during the entire journey through the desert.
* "you refreshed your weary inheritance." -Israel was the Lord's inheritance. For there to be an inheritance someone should die. Jesus died. The Lord supplied water to Israel. The Lord supplies the Holy Spirit to the church.
* Some commentators add that this refers to the rain of gifts which was manna and guails. Considering what Jesus said after the feeding of the five thousand according to the Apostle John, should not the word of God in the form of the commandment, and even the Lord Jesus himself be added to the gifts of God that rained down from heaven? (John 5:32-35)
>What was the end result of God's provision? Where they rich when they entered the promised land? Why is this important for them to know in David's time? Today? (Psalm 72:5-6)
* Psalm 68:10 "Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor."
* The ending verse of the third stanza is a parallelism to the three verses before. The time in the desert is paralleled with the time in the promised land right up to David writing this psalm. Whether the parallelism is synonymous or synthetic I am not sure. Yet, Hebrew poetry is displayed with the third stanza.
* "Your people settled in it" -The Lord made it all possible. Same for the church. Jesus made it all possible. Same for each individual. God made it all possible. We should never forget.
* "from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor." -God has a great bounty. "Bounty" literally is "goodness" (KJV) from the Hebrew "tob". Of course, the promised land, Canaan, is known for bountiful crops. However, more than crops and grassland was the Israelites. The Lord God gave them a covenant with laws. He gave them himself as their God. This is goodness.
* Psalm 72:5-6 says of the Lord God, Jesus, "He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth."
* Before Your People.
God always goes out before his people. The Lord God was in front of Israel when they left Mount Sinai on their way to the promised land (7). Jesus was in front of his apostles and disciples, preaching from town to town. The Holy Spirit led the apostles and disciples where they needed to be and say what they needed to say on and after Pentecost. When Jesus comes again, descending on the clouds (4), leading those who passed before us, the believers alive on the earth will join them in glorious bodies (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23, 50-54).
When God moves, his power shakes the heavens and the earth (8). During the journey, the Lord God provides for his people (9). Though I grow weary, and I do grow weary of the cross I have been assigned to carry, which is this online ministry, the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit refreshes my soul and spirit. The Holy Spirit comes as rain in the desert, the "rain from heaven" (Deuteronomy 11:11) to dry skin and bones. Carrying the cross, I am led to settle in the land of bounty. Jesus provides a place for this poor soul.
Do not let the journey through the desert wear me out, for it is the Almighty that leads me (John 7:37). Pour your rain on my soul (Isaiah 45:8; Psalm 72:6). Shake the earth. Drop the mountains and hills. Raise the valleys. Make my way straight as you lead me to your promised land.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 68:7-10.
II. From Sinai Into His Sanctuary (68:11-23)
* Miriam and the Israelites rejoicing because the Lord delivered them from the Egyptian army during the Red Sea crossing. The artwork is in the 1890 Holman Bible.
>4. Who announced the Word? Who proclaimed it? What is the difference between announcing and proclaiming? (11)
* Psalm 68:11 "The Lord announced the word, and great was the company of those who proclaimed it:"
* The fourth stanza, verses 11-14, recalls God's victories over the kings of Canaan who were "seized with trembling" and who "will melt away" (Exodus 15:15, Joshua 14:1-2, Judges 3:1).
* "The Lord announced the word" -When the Lord closed the Red Sea on the Egyptians and they drowned, "Moses and the Israelites sang a song to the Lord, 'I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. THe horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea...'" (Exodus 15:1)
* "great was the company of those who proclaimed it" -I use the 1984 NIV translation. However, the Hebrew for phrase here is feminine which lead a later NIV translation and some commentators to have "...and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng". They further point out that the women giving more praise to David than Saul, is what elevated Saul's jealousy of David. The HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible), GW (God's Word), CSB (Christian Standard Bible), and YLT (Young's Literal Translation) also have women or female here.
Thus, Miriam proclaimed it to the women, "Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. Miriam sand tho them: 'Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.'" (Exodus 15:20-21)
* Other places that women celebrated victories are Exodus 15:20-21, Judges 11:34, 21:21; and 1 Samuel 18:6-7. God put the words in their mouth.
* The Lord spoke through Moses, thus announcing what had happened. Miriam told the women what had happened, thus proclaiming it.
* After the Lord directed the Israelites away from Mount Sinai toward the promised land they defeated the Midianites, their kings, and took all the spoils.
>What was the response when others heard the proclamation? Who divided the spoils? (12)
* Psalm 68:12 "Kings and armies flee in haste; in the camps men divide the plunder."
* "Kings and armies flee in haste" -David had access to the book of Joshua. The message that Egypt was defeated by the Lord God at the Red Sea was known by the Canaanites was told by Rahab at the city of Jericho (Joshua 2:9-10).
* "in the camps men divide the plunder." -I use the 1984 NIV translation. Most commentators claim that the women also received the plunder based on a later version NIV, KJV, and most English translations rendering of the Hebrew based on the context of the passage.
>What were the people in the camps doing while the Lord was working for them? (13) What does this say about how he works for his people today? What does the second half of verse 13 mean?
* Psalm 68:13 "Even while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of [my] dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold."
* "Even while you sleep among the campfires" -In peace because of the protection of the Lord God.
* "dove" -Israel is sometimes refereed to as the Lord's dove. Psalm 74:18-19 "Remember how the enemy has mocked you, O LORD, how foolish people have reviled your name. Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever."
* Hosea 7:11-12
* "the wings of [my] dove are sheathed with silver" -The Lord saying "my dove" seams to indicate Israel. Does this mean they were enriched even though they remained in the camp's safety? The psalm does make it clear that the fear of the Lord caused the Midianites and Canaanites ro flee before Israel arrived, thus making them rich.
The Bible Background Commentary states there is no clear consensus on the meaning of "silver" and "gold" references here. Some commentaries says this is poetry, which is obvious. Some state the victor's clothing or cape was adorned or laced with silver and gold which seems to not be what is being said here. Other commentaries write about the "pots" in the KJV translation and laying "between the borders" in other English translations.
* "its feathers with shining gold." -Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible has, "Beautiful and glorious, like the feathers of a dove, which according to the variety of its postures, and of the light shining upon it, look like silver or gold."
* "The image here is simply one of beauty. The allusion is to the changeable colors of the plumage of a dove, now seeming to be bright silver, and then, as the rays of light fall on it in another direction, to be yellow as gold. If the allusion is to the ark, considered as having been laid aside among the ordinary vessels of the tabernacle, and having become dark and dingy by neglect, then the meaning would be, that, when restored to its proper place, and with the proper degree of attention and care bestowed upon it, it would become a most beautiful object. If the allusion is to the people of the land considered either as lying down in dishonor, as if among filth, or as lying down calmly and quietly as the beasts do in their stalls, or as peacefully reposing within their natural limits or borders, then the meaning would be, that the spectacle would be most beautiful. The varied tints of loveliness in the land-the gardens, the farms, the flowers, the fruits, the vineyards, the orchards, the villages, the towns, the cheerful homes-would be like the dove-the emblem of calmness-so beautiful in the variety and the changeableness of its plumage. The comparison of a beautiful and variegated country with a dove is not a very obvious one, and yet, in this view, it would not be wholly unnatural. It is not easy always to vindicate philosophically the images used in poetry; nor is it always easy for a Western mind to see the reasons of the images employed by an Oriental poet. It seems probable that the comparison of the land (considered as thus variegated in its beauty) with the changing beauties of the plumage of the dove is the idea intended to be conveyed by this verse; but it is not easy to make it out on strictly exegetical or philological principles." (Barnes' Notes on the Old Testament)
That they were enriched with the plunder of the field: She that tarried at home divided the spoil. Not only the men, the soldiers that abode by the stuff, who were, by a statute of distributions, to share the prey (1 Samuel 30:24), but even the women that tarried at home had a share, which intimates the abundance of spoil that should be taken. (Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible)
>What would snow scattered on a dark mountain look like?
* Psalm 68:14 "When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Zalmon."
* "Zalom" -KJV has the spelling "Salmon". Not be confused with an Ahohite, one of David's thirty mighty men (guard) (2 Samuel 23:28). This is a mountain near Shechem where Abimelech and his men cut brush with which to burn the tower of Shechem (Judges 9:49-49). This may refer be the Golan Heights.
A mountain near Shechem (Judges 9:46-48), but others identify it here as Jebel Cruze, a dark volcanic mountain east of Bashan. Its name appears to mean "the dark one" - in distinction from the Lebanan ("the white one") range, composed of limestone -and the figure may involve the contrast of what snow scattered on "Dark Mountain." The reference may then be to abandoned weapons littering the field from which the kings have fled headlong (2 Kings 7:15). (NIV Study Bible)
* "When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land" -Because of fear.
* "it was like snow fallen on Zalmon." -Easy to see.
* The Almighty Scattered Kings.
God allowed the Israelites to pass through the Red Sea when he led them out of slavery in Egypt to Mount Sinai before they went to the promised land. The Lord did not allow Pharaoh and the Egyptian army to pass through the Red Sea. The waves crushed them. They drowned. Exodus 15 records the praise sung by Moses. Miriam, the prophetess and the women repeated it, "Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea." (Exodus 15:1, 21).
David says, "The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng (11). Exodus 15:17 says, "You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance - the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established." Moses was prophesying about Mount Zion, the place where Solomon would build the temple and the heavenly Jerusalem.
Speaking to those who accepted Jesus as the Lord God Almighty the writer of Hebrews wrote, "You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire (speaking of Mount Sinai). But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." (Hebrews 12:18, 22-24)
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 68:11-14.
>5. How are the mountains of Bashan described? (15)
* Psalm 68:15 "The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains; rugged are the mountains of Bashan."
* The fifth stanza, verses 15 through 18, are a celebration of God's ascent to Mount Zion when David brought the ark of the covenant and set it in a new tent and finished with King Solomon bringing the ark into the temple his father started and he finished (2 Samuel 6:12, 17, 7:2; 1 Kings 6:19, 8:3-7, 21; 2 Chronicles 1:4, 5:2-10, 6:41; Psalm 132:8).
* "The mountains of Bashan"
* "majestic mountains; rugged"
>What does David ask the mountains? Where did God chose to reign? Will he dwell there forever?
* Psalm 68:16 "Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the LORD himself will dwell forever?"
* "Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains" -Personifying mountains. Poetry.
* "at the mountain where God chooses to reign"
* "where the LORD himself will dwell forever?"
>Did Israel have have that many chariots? (17) Where did the Lord come from? What is a sanctuary? Where was the Lord's sanctuary?
* Psalm 68:17 "The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord [has come] from Sinai into his sanctuary."
* "The chariots of God" -Chariots are a sign of power, usually used for war and/or defense. Pharaoh only pursued the Israelites with only 600 war-chariots (Exodus 14:7). God's chariots have been understood as angels (2 Kings 6:17; Psalm 104:3, Isaiah 66:15; Habakkuk 3:8). A chariot can be used for peaceful purposes such as Jacob's funeral procession (Genesis 46:29).
* "tens of thousands and thousands of thousands" -The phrase is to denote a very large amount. Israel never had this amount of chariots. Solomon had 1,400 chariots (1 Kings 10:26)
* Jesus, when telling Peter to put his sword away said he could "call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels". (Matthew 26:53)
* "the Lord [has come] from Sinai into his sanctuary." -David set the Ark of the Covenant in a tent on Mount Zion. Therefore, it was a sanctuary. Later Solomon built the temple. It was a sanctuary. The Holy Spirit rested in the souls of the disciples on Pentecost. Therefore, we are his sanctuary.
According to the Holman Bible Dictionary a sanctuary is a "place set aside as sacred and holy, especially a place of worship. On sites where the patriarchs had erected altars, the people of Israel later built shrines and temples to commemorate the encounters with God. Specifically, the tabernacle and the Teple in Jerusalem were revered as sanctuaries."
* "sanctuary" -Denotes, (1) the Holy Land (Exodus 15:17; Compare Psalm 114:2); (2) the temple (1 Chronicles 22:19; 2 Chronicles 29:21); (3) the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8; Leviticus 12:4, 21:12); (4) the holy place, the place of the Presence (Gr. hieron, the temple-house; not the naos, which is the temple area, with its courts and porches, (Leviticus 4:6; Ephesians 2:21)), R.V., marg.; (5) God's holy habitation in heaven (Psalms 102:19). In the final state there is properly "no sanctuary" (Revelations 21:22), for God and the Lamb "are the sanctuary" (R.V., "temple"). All is there hallowed by the Divine Presence; all is sancturary. (Illustrated Bible Dictionary: And Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature)
* Mountains.
Four earthly mountains are mentioned in verses 14 through 17, and the heavenly mountain is referenced in verse 18. Mount Zalmon (14) is a wooded mountain near Shechem. The name means "shady" or "dark" or "black". Fallen snow would easily contrast. Thus, at the Lord God's moving, the falling kings that are scatted on the land are easy to see.
Mount Bashan (15), or the hill of Bashan, refers to the region east of the Jordan River known for its strength and fertility. It carries symbolic meanings of power, divine majesty, and fierce opposition. The Lord God conquered Mount Bashan when he led Israel from Mount Sinai to the promised land (17). David asked Mount Bashan, "Why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the LORD himself will dwell forever?" (16) David is referring to Mount Zion, where the his son Solomon built the temple, where the Lord Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God, where he was crucified, died, and rose from the dead.
Jesus will come again with tens of thousands and thousand of thousands into his sanctuary very soon. Are you ready for his kingdom to come? Will you be one of his righteous ones? Or are you still rebellious?
* The Triumphal Return of Israel. Numbers 31:12 is cited. Midianites were totally destroyed at the Lord's command. Five Midian kings were killed. The artwork is in The Art Bible.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 68:14-17.
>6. What is the meaning of verse 18 according to Ephesians 4:7-13?
* Psalm 68:18 "When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you received gifts from men, even from the rebellious-- that you, O LORD God, might dwell there."
* Ephesians 4:7-13 "But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
* Verse 18 is the last of stanza 6.
* Apostle Paul is quoting from the Greek Septuagint, not the original Hebrew.
* 2 Corinthians 2:13-14.
* He Ascended on High.
Verse 18 is the key to understanding the mystery behind this prophetic-psalm. Yes, this is a processional-psalm in the fact that David is writing of the Lord's triumphant leading his people from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion, and from the tabernacle to the temple with "May God arise, extol him who rides on the clouds (meaning cloud of smoke during the day)." However, verse 18 in mystery says, "When you ascended on high, you took many captives; you received gifts from people, even from the rebellious - that you, LORD God, might dwell there." For David and the generations till the Messiah's arrival, this would have been mysterious.
However, the Holy Spirit revealed to the first church, as recorded by Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians, the meaning via revelation of this verse, and thus this psalm. "But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: 'When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.' (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:7-13)
We have a magnificent reason to praise Jesus, the king who descended, being found in the form of a man, dying, rising to life, clothed in glory, and is seated at the right hand of God. He sent the Holy Spirit and appointed tasks to his people. These tasks are not for selfish gain. The tasks that the ascended Christ gives is for the benefit of his people, the church. Jesus dwells on in heaven and fills heaven and earth. Jesus does not want his people to be children forever. He wants us to be mature in all things. We are to build each other and self in love. (Ephesians 4:14-16)
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 68:18.
>7. What are God's people, the righteous again told to do? Why? How does God our Savior do this?
* Psalm 68:19 "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah "
* The sixth stanza, verses 19 through 23 is a joyous confession of hope that God's victorious campaigns will continue until the salvation of his people is completed. These verses are looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus.
* "Praise be to the Lord" -A call to praise can be called the heart of the psalm, repeated three times. All the rest gives reasons why they should praise the Lord God. Verse 4 is also a call to sing praise to God, thus starting the Psalm with praise. Verse 32 also calls for worship in song, thus ending the Psalm in praise..
* "to God our Savior" -The underlining theme of the supporting reasons. David has been and will continue to give examples of when God saved his people, and will continue to save his people.
* "who daily bears our burdens" -Jesus bore the burden of our sins. This verse states that he daily bears our burdens. God releases us from bearing the burdens that enslavement to our enemies would impose on us.
* "who daily loaded us with benefits" is not a correct translation of the original Hebrew. The KJV, released in 1611, incorrectly translated the original translations or their English is or never was in use. The KJV update, the ASV released in 1901, corrected the translation.
* Isaiah 46:3-4 "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."
>What else does he do according to verse 20a? How is the second half of verse 20 related and expands the first half? How did Jesus fulfill this though his suffering and death?
* Psalm 68:20 "Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death."
* "Our God is a God who saves" -God saved them from Egypt's army. God saved them from the Midianites. God saved them from the Canaanites. Yet, this also points to Jesus who saves from sin and death.
* "from the Sovereign LORD" -"Yehwih Adonay" in the original Hebrew meaning the Lord's absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure. This is the only place "Sovereign LORD" is used in this psalm, and the first psalm it is used of seven times in the Psalter. It is used six (6) times in the Pentateuch. Once in Joshua and twice in Joshua. Used six (6) times in 2 Samuel and twice in 1 Kings. The prophets used it many times, especially Ezekiel.
* "comes escape from death." -A big statement, more than everything before. This is realization because God rescued from Egypt, the Midianites, and the Canaanites. The Holy Spirit revealed this in meditation of these events.
* Isaiah 9:4-7 "For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."
* Isaiah 10:26-27 "The LORD Almighty will lash them with a whip, as when he struck down Midian at the rock of Oreb; and he will raise his staff over the waters, as he did in Egypt. In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be broken because you have grown so fat.
* 2 Corinthians 1:10 "He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,"
>How does verse 21 refer back to the fall of mankind at the Garden of Eden? (Genesis 3:15) How does it refer to Jesus' resurrection?
* Psalm 68:21 "Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins."
* David is speaking here. It can be said also, that the throngs of God's people are saying this too.
* "Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies" -Said with confidence. They will be completely destroyed.
* "the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins." -Said with confidence. The enemies will receive judgment. This could be the hair on their head, not necessarily a crown with hair on it. Thus, they are in the prime of life, not old with no hair.
* "go on in their sins" -No repentance. Without repentance there is no forgiveness.
* When the head is crushed, blood would be on the foot and hem of the garment. Also, the crowns would be crushed.
* Psalm 110:5-7 "The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook beside the way; therefore he will lift up his head."
* Numbers 24:17-19 "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth. Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong. A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city."
>Where was Bashan? How can someone be brought back from the depths of the sea? What then is verse 22 referring to considering verses 20 and 21?
* Psalm 68:22 "The Lord says, 'I will bring them from Bashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea,'"
* "The Lord says" -God begins speaking.
* "I will bring them from Bashan" -I can only defer that the Midianites will rise to be judged.
* "I will bring them from the depths of the sea," -I can only defer that the Egyptians will rise to be judged.
* David wrote of God who saves, deliverers from death, and crushes the enemies. Now, the Lord God says he will do this.
>What might verse 23 mean considering Revelation 19:11-16?
* Psalm 68:23 "that you may plunge your feet in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share."
* "that you may plunge your feet in the blood of your foes" -Vivid imagery borrowed from the literary conventions of the ancient Near East. Its origins are the exaggerated language of triumphant reports of victory on the battlefield. See note above for more.
* "while the tongues of your dogs have their share." -The dogs would like up the blood.
* Revelation 19:11-16 "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."
* Psalm 58:9-11 "Before your pots can feel [the heat of] the thorns-- whether they be green or dry--the wicked will be swept away. The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then men will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth."
* God Will Crush the Enemies' Head.
Praise God for salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior (19). This is what David is instructing the Lord's people to do in mass assembly. Why? Because he daily bears our burdens. Jesus bore the cross as an atonement for our sins, once and for all. Every day as I go about my day I try to live a life of self sacrifice for his name sake. However, at times I fail. Yet, when I confess my sin with a heart to change he bears by burden.
Am I burden by finances? Pray for Jesus bears these too. Am I burden with ill health? Pray for Jesus bears this too? Am I burdened for other people's problems? Pray for Jesus bears these too. Am I burdened by the loss of a loved one? Pray for Jesus bears this too? What every burdens by heart, Jesus will bear the burden.
Jesus also saves (20a). He supplies escape from death (20b). Jesus died and rose from the dead. He promises all who believe in his, those who call on his name, that they will rise with him to live in paradise forever.
When Adam and Eve sin the Lord God told the devil that though he would bite the heal of the Savior. who would be the Son of Man, with death, the Son of Man would crush his head by rising from the death. Jesus crushed the head of the devil. The last enemy to be destroyed is death (21; 1 Corinthians 15:26).
Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead. He will defeat his enemies. His garment hems will be drenched in their blood as he walks through it. The enemies of God will be no more. Jesus will free his people from their evil vices (22-23; Revelation 17:14, 19:11-13, 19-21). Yes, there are many reason to praise God.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 68:19-23.
III. Summon Your Power (68:24-35)
* The Plague of Hail during Egypt's punishment and Israel's freedom. The artwork is in the 1890 Holman Bible.
>8. What has come into view? What is that? Where is it going? What is it all about?
* Psalm 68:24 "Your procession has come into view, O God, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary."
* The seventh stanza, verses 24 through 27 is when the liturgical procession approaches the temple (Psalm 24:47)
* "Your procession has come into view" -A bystander is standing in the City of David looking for the procession of his their God and King.
* "O God" -The first God is "Elohim" in the original Hebrew, a singular plural word. The "im" makes is plural. The placement in the sentence makes it singular. The second in this verse is "El", the base or shortened word in the original Hebrew which means "strength" as adjective "mighty", especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity or idol).
* "the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary." -Original Hebrew is "El Melek" meaning "God King".
* "sanctuary" -Sanctuary is "qodesh" in the original Hebrew, which means "holy" and "sacred place or thing", and that is not in the abstract.
>Who are in front with God and King? And after them? Who are with them? Why would these three be in front? (1 Samuel 18:6-9; 21:10-11; 29:5)
* Psalm 68:25 "In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the maidens playing tambourines."
* "In front are the singers" -They are singing praises to God. They are traditionally women in the ancient Middle East.
* "after them the musicians" -Harps, lyres, trumpets, sistrums, rams horns, cymbals, and tambourines were common.
* "with them are the maidens playing tambourines." -Making the other instruments probably played by the priests that David assigned. (2 Samuel 6:5, 12)
* 1 Samuel 18:6-9 "When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David."
* 1 Samuel 21:10-11 "That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. But the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sing about in their dances: "'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands'?"
* 1 Samuel 29:5 "Isn't this the David they sang about in their dances: "'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands'?"
>What are the singers and musicians told to do? (26)
* Psalm 68:26 "Praise God in the great congregation; praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel."
* "Praise God in the great congregation" -Communal praise.
* "praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel." -Communal praise.
* This is what they sang.
* Some English translations have "from the fountain of Israel" like the KJV at the end of verse 26 and others have "in the assembly of Israel" like the NIV. I cannot phantom why some English translations have "from the fountain of Israel" at the end of verse 26. The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary says "the fountain of Israel" means the "lineal descendants of Jacob, are invited to unite in the doxology. Then by one of the nearest tribes, one of the most eminent, and two of the most remote, are represented the whole nation of Israel, passing forward." However, it doesn't explain the fountain. Matthew Pool's Commentary says "the Fountain of Israel, or Jacob" means 'all ye people of Israel... to come forth out of the waters of Judah". The Hebrew word here is "maqor".
>Who follow the singers and musicians? What does the foreshadow?
* Psalm 68:27 "There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah's princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali."
* "There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them" -The closest to Judah, the last born to Jacob where Apostle Paul was a descendant from.
* "there the great throng of Judah's princes" -Where Jerusalem was located and the location where Jesus told the apostles to start their ministry after he ascended.
* "there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali." -The Galilee area to the north, the way of the sea, the farthest from Jerusalem where the gospel was first preached and Jesus' first disciples were from.
* Here Comes God and King.
When I was a child, my hometown would have a parade every Labor Day. I would stand on the street curb with my neck stretched, watching for the first glimpse. The first vehicle was always the village police, followed by the mayor and his family seated in a waxed convertible limo. Boring to a young boy. I wanted to see the antique cars and tractors, horses, marching bands, fire trucks, Shriners in small cars and funny hats, and people throwing candies. Labor Day was surely the day of the grand procession.
David records in stanza eight (verses 24-27) Israel's God and King's grand procession. God is going into his sanctuary. Sanctuary is "qodesh" in the original Hebrew, which means "holy" and "sacred place or thing", and that is not in the abstract. The procession of God going to the temple has singers, musicians, maidens playing tambourines, praise to God in the great congregation, and tribe after tribe of great princes.
David not only sings of God and King going from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion, from tabernacle to temple, and from temple to his people's souls. He is also prophesying about Jesus coming again. When Jesus comes again, all will know that he is coming with his people. However, I did not realize that up front with him are singers, musicians, and maidens with tambourines praising their God and King. Oh, what a great procession that will be. Jesus will land on the Mount of Olives and walk into the temple again.
* The Tabernacle in the middle of the Israelite camp. In the back in the column of smoke where the Lord stood during the day. During the night it was a column of light. In the front of the Tabernacle with curtains open people are praising the Lord God. A young lad is bringing sheep and a man is bringing cattle into the courtyard. The priests are busy at work inside the courtyard. The artwork is in the 1890 Holman Bible.
>9. What is David's prayer? (28)
* Psalm 68:28 "Summon your power, O God; show us your strength, O God, as you have done before."
* The eighth stanza, verses 28-31, is a prayer for God to continue his conquest of the threatening powers.
* "Summon your power"
* "show us your strength"
* "as you have done before."
>Why?
* Psalm 68:29 "Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts."
* "Because of your temple at Jerusalem"
* "kings will bring you gifts."
*
>Who is among the reeds? Who is among the salves of the nations? What do they delight in? What does he pray they do? What does this foreshadow?
* Psalm 68:30 "Rebuke the beast among the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations. Humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war."
* "Rebuke the beast among the reeds"
* "the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations"
* "Humbled, may it bring bars of silver.
* "Scatter the nations who delight in war."
*
>Where will envoys come? Why? When did this happen? (Acts 2:10-11)
* Psalm 68:31 "Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush will submit herself to God."
* "Envoys will come from Egypt"
* "Cush will submit herself to God." -Cush is modern lower Nile River region in Egypt.
* Acts 2:10-11 "Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
* Continue the Conquest.
The singers leading the grand procession sing, "Summon your power, O God..." or perhaps, "Your God has summoned power for you..." and continue with "...show us your strength, O God, as you have done before." They want the Lord to continue his victory over their foes so that other kings may bring him gifts. They specifically mention Egypt, where beasts such as crocodiles and hippopotamuses dwell (the symbols of ancient Egypt). Cush, later known as Sudan and southern Egypt, is also mentioned (31).
This was fulfilled on Pentecost for people from Egypt who were in Jerusalem heard Peter's message (Acts 2:10). They believed, were baptized, and filled with the Holy Spirit. They returned to Egypt, where they founded the oldest congregations outside of Jerusalem. Some still in existence today have received much persecution in recent decades, including the burning of some of the oldest churches in the world. Their faith in such persecution is a great gift to God. Humbled, they bring bars of silver to Jesus. Will your faith continue when humbled as they?
>10. What are the kingdoms of the earth instructed to do? Has this happened before? Is this happening now? When will it happen?
* Psalm 68:32 "Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, Selah"
* The last stanza, verses 32-35, is the climax of the liturgical procession: a call for all kingdoms to hail with praise the God of Israel as the God who reigns in heaven and has established his earthly throne in the temple in Jerusalem (Psalm 47). These verses are looking forward to the second coming of Jesus, the end of the age we are now in.
* O kingdoms of the earth
*
>What does verse 33 foreshadow?
* Psalm 68:33 "to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice."
* "to him who rides the ancient skies above"
* "who thunders with mighty voice."
*
>Explain what verse 34 might mean in conjunction with verse 33.
* Psalm 68:34 "Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies."
* "Proclaim the power of God"
* "whose majesty is over Israel"
* "whose power is in the skies."
*
>What is promised in verse 35? How is reassuring in our lives right now?
* Psalm 68:35 "You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!"
* "You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary
* the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people
*
* Doxology
The ninth stanza ends Psalm 68 with a doxology that is a prophecy unfulfilled, a trumpet waiting to be sounded, the day the world, in unison, praises the Lord Jesus at his triumphant coming on the clouds of heaven, the shekinah glory, with tens of thousands and thousands of thousands following in song.
Revelation 19:6-8 records, "Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: 'Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.' (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)"
King David wrote, "Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice." Apostle John wrote, "On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, ... I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance." (Revelation 1:10, 12-16)
Both men write of Jesus who is coming again to judge the living and the dead, to set up his earthly kingdom, and to avenge the blood of his people. This psalm has so much more I want to write about, and I will in the commentary. Yet, I leave BDBD with this thought. Keep hope and faith in Jesus. Sing praise to his name. The main theme is to sing songs of joy to Jesus. The rest are supporting reasons why.
