681 Let God arise , let His enemies be scattered , And let those who hate Him flee before e Him. 2 As smoke is driven away , so drive them away ; As wax melts before e the fire , So let the wicked perish before e God . 3 But let the righteous be glad ; let them exult before God ; Yes, let them rejoice with gladness . 4 Sing to God , sing praises to His name ; Lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts , Whose name is the Lord , and exult before Him. 5 A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows , Is God in His holy habitation . 6 God makes a home for the lonely ; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity , Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land .
7 O God , when You went forth before Your people , When You marched through the wilderness , Selah . 8 The earth quaked ; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God ; Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God , the God of Israel . 9 You shed abroad a plentiful rain , O God ; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched . 10 Your creatures settled in it; You provided in Your goodness for the poor , O God . 11 The Lord gives the command ; The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host : 12 " Kings of armies flee , they flee , And she who remains at home will divide the spoil !" 13 When you lie down among the sheepfolds , You are like the wings of a dove covered with silver , And its pinions with glistening gold . 14 When the Almighty scattered the kings there, It was snowing in Zalmon .
15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan ; A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan . 16 Why do you look with envy , O mountains with many peaks , At the mountain which God has desired for His abode ? Surely the Lord will dwell there forever . 17 The chariots of God are myriads , thousands upon thousands ; The Lord is among them as at Sinai , in holiness . 18 You have ascended on high , You have led captive Your captives ; You have received gifts among men , Even among the rebellious also , that the Lord God may dwell there. 19 Blessed be the Lord , who daily bears our burden , The God who is our salvation . Selah . 20 God is to us a God of deliverances ; And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death . 21 Surely God will shatter the head of His enemies , The hairy crown of him who goes on in his guilty deeds .
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.