Psalms 68
World English Bible
WEB1For 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. 2As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 3But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness. 4Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to Yah, his name! Rejoice before him! 5A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. 6God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land. 7God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... Selah. 8The 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. 9You, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance when it was weary. 10Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor. 11The 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, 13while you sleep among the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold. 14When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon. 15The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged. 16Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, Yahweh will dwell there forever. 17The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary. 18You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among people, yes, among the rebellious also, that Yah God might dwell there. 19Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. Selah. 20God is to us a God of deliverance. To Yahweh, the Lord, belongs escape from death. 21But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness. 22The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea, 23that you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.” 24They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. 25The 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!” 27There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. 28Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us. 29Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents to you. 30Rebuke 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. 31Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God. 32Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord— Selah— 33to him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice. 34Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies. 35You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!
World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org
Overview
Psalms 68 is a powerful and triumphant psalm attributed to King David, celebrating God's sovereignty and His mighty acts on behalf of His people. The chapter opens with a call for God to arise and scatter His enemies, emphasizing the theme of divine victory over opposition. The imagery of God marching through the wilderness evokes the historical journey of the Israelites, reminding them of His faithfulness and protection during their exodus from Egypt. The psalmist declares that God is a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows, highlighting His care for the marginalized and vulnerable in society (#fatherless, #widows).
The psalm continues to recount God's past deeds, including the giving of the Law at Sinai and the conquest of the Promised Land. It emphasizes the importance of worship and the gathering of God's people, as they are called to praise Him for His glorious works. The refrain of God's power and majesty culminates in a vision of the nations acknowledging His authority. The psalm concludes with a call to bless the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, reinforcing the message that God is not only a mighty warrior but also a compassionate provider (#God, #worship, #praise). This chapter serves as a reminder of God's enduring presence and His commitment to His people throughout history.
Referenced by
- Numbers 10:35-36v1Numbers 10:35-36 records Moses' prayer when the Ark set out and rested, which is echoed in Psalm 68:1, a call for God to arise and scatter His enemies.
- Judges 5:4-5v7Judges 5:4-5 describes the earth trembling and the heavens dropping water at the presence of the Lord, echoing Psalm 68:7-8, which also depicts God's majestic presence causing the earth to shake.
- Judges 5:31v1Judges 5:31 concludes with a prayer for God's enemies to perish and His lovers to shine, paralleling Psalm 68:1-2 where God's enemies scatter and the righteous rejoice.
- Isaiah 18:7v31Isaiah 18:7 speaks of a tribute being brought to the Lord from a people tall and smooth-skinned, which echoes Psalm 68:31 where envoys from Egypt and Cush are said to come to God, highlighting the theme of nations bringing offerings to the Lord.
Topics in this chapter
- Victory
- Praise
- Worship
- Compassion
- Deliverance
- Divine Warrior
- God's Presence
- Justice
- Sovereignty of God
- Ascension
- Blessing
- Covenant
- Salvation
- Social Justice
- Care for the Vulnerable
- God
- God's Character
- God's Majesty
- God's Power
- Jerusalem
- Provision
- Trusting God
- Ark of the Covenant
- Bashan
- Blessed
- Blessed Nation
- Care for the Needy
- Celebration
- Chariots
- Christ
- Christian Art
- Confidence
- Conquest
- David
- Defeated
- Divine Intervention
- Divine Justice
- Divine Majesty
- Divine Procession
- Divine Protection
- Divine Provision
- Divine Support
- Divine Victory
- Doxology
- Easter
- Elohim
- Empowerment
- Enemies of God
- Evangelism
- Faith
- Faithfulness
- God as Warrior
- God's Compassion
- God's Enemies
- God's Kingship
- God's Strength
- God's Triumph
- Guidance in the Bible
- Heavenly Host
- Israel
- Jesus
- Joy
- King of Israel
- Kingship
- Let God Arise
- Mercy
- Mount Sinai
- Mount Zion
- People of God
- Prayer
- Procession
- Processional Hymn
- Proclamation
- Protector
- Psalm 68
- Psalms
- Rest
- Revelation
- Righteousness
- Righteousness
- Spiritual Gifts
- Spiritual Journey
- Strength
- Thankfulness
- Thanksgiving
- The Presence of God
- Triumph
- Universal Praise
- Victory in God
- Wickedness
- Witness
- Yeshuah (Jesus)
- Zion
Related chapters
- Ephesians 4Spiritual Gifts
- Exodus 15Divine VictoryEasterDivine Majesty
- Revelation 19Divine Warrior
- Judges 5God as WarriorTriumphBlessed
- Habakkuk 3Divine WarriorGod's StrengthGod's Majesty
- Joshua 12DefeatedBashanDivine Warrior
- Psalms 47God's KingshipAscensionMount Zion
- Deuteronomy 10Ark of the CovenantMount SinaiGod's Character
- Deuteronomy 33Divine WarriorMount SinaiGod's Majesty
- Deuteronomy 3BashanDivine VictoryDivine Support
- 2 Samuel 6ProcessionArk of the CovenantCelebration
- Isaiah 41Care for the NeedyGod's StrengthDivine Support
Your study
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