681 Rise doth God—scattered are His enemies! And those hating Him flee from His face. 2 As the driving away of smoke Thou drivest away, As the melting of wax before fire, The wicked perish at the presence of God. 3 And the righteous rejoice, they exult before God, And they joy with gladness. 4 Sing ye to God—praise His name, Raise up a highway for Him who is riding in deserts, In Jah 'is' His name, and exult before Him. 5 Father of the fatherless, and judge of the widows, 'Is' God in His holy habitation. 6 God—causing the lonely to dwell at home, Bringing out bound ones into prosperity, Only—the refractory have inhabited a dry place.
7 O God, in Thy going forth before Thy people, In Thy stepping through the wilderness, Selah. 8 The earth hath shaken, Yea, the heavens have dropped before God, This Sinai—before God, the God of Israel. 9 A shower of free-will gifts thou shakest out, O God. Thine inheritance, when it hath been weary, Thou hast established it. 10 Thy company have dwelt in it, Thou preparest in Thy goodness for the poor, O God. 11 The Lord doth give the saying, The female proclaimers 'are' a numerous host. 12 Kings of hosts flee utterly away, And a female inhabitant of the house apportioneth spoil. 13 Though ye do lie between two boundaries, Wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold. 14 When the Mighty spreadeth kings in it, It doth snow in Salmon.
15 A hill of God 'is' the hill of Bashan, A hill of heights 'is' the hill of Bashan. 16 Why do ye envy, O high hills, The hill God hath desired for His seat? Jehovah also doth tabernacle for ever. 17 The chariots of God 'are' myriads, thousands of changes, The Lord 'is' among them, in Sinai, in the sanctuary. 18 Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast taken captive captivity, Thou hast taken gifts for men, That even the refractory may rest, O Jah God. 19 Blessed 'is' the Lord, day by day He layeth on us. God Himself 'is' our salvation. Selah. 20 God Himself 'is' to us a God for deliverances, And Jehovah Lord hath the outgoings of death. 21 Only—God doth smite The head of His enemies, The hairy crown of a habitual walker in his guilt.
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.