681 To the chief Musician. Of David. A Psalm: a Song. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered, and let them that hate him flee before him. 2 As smoke is driven, thou wilt drive them away; as wax melteth before the fire, the wicked shall perish at the presence of God. 3 But the righteous shall rejoice: they shall exult before God and be glad with joy. 4 Sing unto God, sing forth his name; cast up a way for him that rideth in the deserts: his name is Jah; and rejoice before him. 5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. 6 God maketh the solitary into families; those that were bound he bringeth out into prosperity: but the rebellious dwell in a parched [land].
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 at the presence of God, yon Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel. 9 Thou, O God, didst pour a plentiful rain upon thine inheritance, and when it was weary thou strengthenedst it. 10 Thy flock hath dwelt therein: thou hast prepared in thy goodness, for the afflicted, O God! 11 The Lord gives the word: great the host of the publishers. 12 Kings of armies flee; they flee, and she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil. 13 Though ye have lain among the sheepfolds, [ye shall be as] wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with green gold. 14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it became snow-white as Zalmon.
15 [As] mount Bashan is the mount of God, a many-peaked mountain, [as] mount Bashan. 16 Why do ye look with envy, ye many-peaked mountains, upon the mount that God hath desired for his abode? yea, Jehovah will dwell [there] for ever. 17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them: it is a Sinai in holiness. 18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts in Man, and even [for] the rebellious, for the dwelling [there] of Jah Elohim. 19 Blessed be the Lord: day by day doth he load us [with good], the God who is our salvation. Selah. 20 Our God is the God of salvation; and with Jehovah, the Lord, are the goings forth [even] from death. 21 Verily God will smite the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of him that goeth on still in his trespasses.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 68:1-21
Commentary on Psalm 68:1-6
(Read Psalm 68:1-6)
None ever hardened his heart against God, and prospered. God is the joy of his people, then let them rejoice when they come before him. He who derives his being from none, but gives being to all, is engaged by promise and covenant to bless his people. He is to be praised as a God of mercy and tender compassion. He ever careth for the afflicted and oppressed: repenting sinners, who are helpless and exposed more than any fatherless children, are admitted into his family, and share all their blessings.
Commentary on Psalm 68:7-14
(Read Psalm 68:7-14)
Fresh mercies should put us in mind of former mercies. If God bring his people into a wilderness, he will be sure to go before them in it, and to bring them out of it. He provided for them, both in the wilderness and in Canaan. The daily manna seems here meant. And it looks to the spiritual provision for God's Israel. The Spirit of grace and the gospel of grace are the plentiful rain, with which God confirms his inheritance, and from which their fruit is found. Christ shall come as showers that water the earth. The account of Israel's victories is to be applied to the victories over death and hell, by the exalted Redeemer, for those that are his. Israel in Egypt among the kilns appeared wretched, but possessed of Canaan, during the reigns of David and Solomon, appeared glorious. Thus the slaves of Satan, when converted to Christ, when justified and sanctified by him, look honourable. When they reach heaven, all remains of their sinful state disappear, they shall be as the wings of the dove, covered with silver, and her feathers as gold. Full salvation will render those white as snow, who were vile and loathsome through the guilt and defilement of sin.
Commentary on Psalm 68:15-21
(Read Psalm 68:15-21)
The ascension of Christ must here be meant, and thereto it is applied, John 17:2. Christ came to a rebellious world, not to condemn it, but that through him it might be saved. The glory of Zion's King is, that he is a Saviour and Benefactor to all his willing people, and a consuming fire to all that persist in rebellion against him. So many, so weighty are the gifts of God's bounty, that he may be truly said to load us with them. He will not put us off with present things for a portion, but will be the God of our salvation. The Lord Jesus has authority and power to rescue his people from the dominion of death, by taking away the sting of it from them when they die, and giving them complete victory over it when they rise again. The crown of the head, the chief pride and glory of the enemy, shall be smitten; Christ shall crush the head of the serpent.