Read Psalms chapter 68 online with LogosAI Bible study tools, highlights, and cross references.
Psalms 68 is part of “Book II: The Exodus Book” (42–72) in the outline of Psalms.
Psalms 68 summary
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. It does not appear when, or upon what occasion, David penned this psalm; but probably it was when, God having given him rest from all his enemies round about, he brought the ark (which was both the token of God's presence and a type of Christ's mediation) from the house of Obed-edom to the tent he had pitched for it in Zion; for the first words are the prayer which Moses used at the removing of the ark, Num 10:35. From this he is led, by the Spirit of prophecy, to speak glorious things concerning the Messiah, his ascension into heaven, and the setting up of his kingdom in the world. I. He begins with prayer, both against God's enemies (Psa 68:1, Psa 68:2) and for his people (Psa 68:3). II. He proceeds to praise, which takes up the rest of the psalm, calling upon all to praise God (Psa 68:4, Psa 68:26, Psa 68:32) and suggesting many things as matter for praise. 1. The greatness and goodness of God (Psa 68:4-6). 2. The wonderful works God had wrought for his people formerly, bringing them through the wilderness (Psa 68:7, Psa 68:8), settling them in Canaan (Psa 68:9, Psa 68:10), giving them victory over their enemies (Psa 68:11, Psa 68:12), and delivering them out of the hands of their oppressors (Psa 68:13, Psa 68:14). 3. The special presence of God in his church (Psa 68:15-17). 4. The ascension of Christ (Psa 68:18) and the salvation of his people by him (Psa 68:19, Psa 68:20). 5. The victories which Christ would obtain over his enemies, and the favours he would bestow upon his church (Psa 68:21-28). 6. The enlargement of the church by the accession of the Gentiles to it (Psa 68:29-31). And so he concludes the psalm with an awful acknowledgment of the glory and grace of God (Psa 68:32-35). With all these great things we should endeavour to be duly affected in singing this psalm.
To the chief musician. A psalm or song of David.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song. Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to the LORD, his name! Rejoice before him!
5 A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
6 God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
7 God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... Selah.
8 The earth trembled. The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai— at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 You, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance when it was weary.
10 Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.
11 The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company.
12 “Kings of armies flee! They flee!” She who waits at home divides the plunder,
13 while you sleep among the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon.
15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged.
16 Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, the LORD will dwell there forever.
17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary.
18 You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among people, yes, among the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell there.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. Selah.
20 God is to us a God of deliverance. To GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death.
21 But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”
24 They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25 The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, among the ladies playing with tambourines,
26 “Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!”
27 There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
28 Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring presents to you.
30 Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample under foot the bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord— Selah—
33 to him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies.
35 You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!