PSALM 68
This psalm is a magnificent song of triumph. Although the psalm does not state an event for which it was written, it fits well with being written to commemorate the removal of the ark of the covenant from the house of Obed-edom.
1 Samuel 4 tells us the Israelites took the ark into battle with the Philistines. They lost the battle and the ark was captured. The Philistines took to Ashdod and put it in the temple of their god, Dagon. But, the next day, the statue of Dagon was found to be knocked down and broken. So, the Philistines removed the ark from their temple and took it to various places, but the Lord struck the people of each place with tumors.
So, the Philistines took the ark to Israel and it was kept in one of their towns, but not taken to Israel. This happened in the last days of Samuel the prophet.
But, when David became king, he wanted to bring the ark to Jerusalem and he prepared a place fo it. Then he went to get it with a huge crowd of people, singers and musicians, priests and levites. And he brought it to Jerusalem with great celebration. You can read that story in 2 Samuel 6. This psalm reflects that triumph.
As the story is told of the procession of the ark, there are also references and allusions to the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness, the Exodus, with the ark in their midst and being led by the pillar of fire and the cloud.
Verses 1-18 are a reflection of the procession of the ark to Jerusalem
68:1-3
The Beginning
The first words of the psalm are “God shall arise”. These words reflect the words Moses said every morning when the ark set out in the wilderness. He said “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” (Numbers 10:35)
The Lord answered that prayer repeatedly, causing his enemies, and enemies of Israel to be defeated and to flee.
The Psalmist acknowledges God’s answer to that prayer, saying “God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee from him!”. This shows us that the psalmist was knowledgeable of the passage in Numbers and its fulfillment at that time. Plus, it shows him apply this truth to the delivery of the ark from the Philistines to Jerusalem.
While the wicked are driven away and perish, the righteous shall be glad. They shall exult before the Load, and be jubilant with joy. (3) 2 Samuel 6 tells us all of Israel celebrated before the Lord with songs, lyres, harps,, tambourines, castanets and cymbals. David offered sacrifices every 6 steps along the way and danced before the Lord.
So, we see that those who love the Lord and are committed to him rejoice in his victories. Worship must be reverent, but it should also be joyful. It is a great privilege to have a relationship with the Living God.
68:4-10
The Procession Begins
As the procession begins, the Psalmist sings praise to God and tells others to do it along with him. His praise emphasizes God’s character. He tells others to sing to God.
He calls God “the one who rides through the deserts”. (English Standard Version) There is a split in interpretations here among various Bible versions. The New American Standard says “wilderness”, in basic agreement with the ESV’s “deserts”. It is the picture of God leading his people from Egypt to Canaan through the desert, or wilderness.
The New International Version and the New King James Version say “clouds” instead of “deserts”. Some connect this with later verses about rain and the heavens. Also, God also appeared in the clouds at Sinai and when he appeared to Ezekiel. Either way, it is picture of God leading his people in victory and power.
The Psalmist extols God as the protector of the weak, helping the fatherless, the widows, those who are alone, and the prisoners. These may be those in prison because they are too poor to pay their debts, because God delivers them from prison to prosperity.
God created the family and he cares about it. He cares about those who do not have a family. That has not changed from the old covenant to the new. James 1:27 tells us: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction…”.
Jesus condemned those who took advantage of the weak.
Verses 7-10 contain further references to the Exodus, when God led his people through the wilderness in power that made the earth quake and the heavens rain. With that rain, he restored Canaan, his inheritance, and made a dwelling for his people, Israel. (9-10) The Psalmist interpreted this as further evidence of God’s care for the weak and helpless, saying “in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy”. (10)
68:11-18
Approaching the City
This stanza captures the words of the great crowd that accompanied the ark to Jerusalem. There are many women in the crowd and they announce the news of the arrival of the ark. They think back to when the Israelites captured Jerusalem, a city on a mountain.
They praised God for winning victory without the help of the men of the army, allowing the women to collect the spoils from the fallen enemy because God scattered them like snow on the mountain. (14) They give God the credit for the victory and do not take it for themselves.
Verses 15-18 refer to God’s choosing of Mt. Zion in Jerusalem as the place for the tabernacle, and later the temple, to reside. His presence was there. The Psalmists paints a picture of a majestic mountain, or range of mountains, named Bashan, which are more majestic and beautiful than Zion. Mt. Hermon, in that range, is tall and imposing. Zion, in comparison, is more like a hill.
But, God chose Zion. It is now beautiful because God chose it and God’s presence is there, not because of its physical beauty. We are like that, too.
God ascended to the mountain in the sense that the ark was taken there. His sanctuary is now there and he dwells there in power, as if he had a 100,000 chariots in attendance. And when he ascended, he received gifts from men. Sacrifices were made and gifts given to construct the place for the ark and to celebrate its return.
68:19-27
The Procession Ends
As the procession ends in Jerusalem, the people recognize that the ark is the symbol for God’s presence. (19) Therefore, they bless the Lord as the one who is their salvation. He saved the faithful Israelites from death as he protected them from defeat in war.
Those enemies included Bashan, whose King Og, tried to prevent Israel from reaching Canaan. (22) It included the Egyptian army, which rested at the bottom of the Red Sea after God collapsed it onto them as they pursued the people of Israel. (21)
Verses 24-27 picture the ark taken into the sanctuary with the singers in front of the ark and the musicians behind it, with virgins playing tambourines.
With the ark resting now in its rightful place, the sanctuary, it is restored to Israel. So the Psalmists blesses God as the fountain of Israel’s blessings. (26) All of the nation are blessed, from the smallest tribe of Benjamin to the royal tribe of Judah. Benjamin basically resided in Judah at this point, and the two tribes were closest to the king. But also blessed were the tribes of Zebulun and Napthali, the northernmost tribes. This represents all of Israel, from South to North.
68:28-35
Israel’s Prayer
These verses are a prayer which calls upon God to exert his power. In essence, it says “now the your presence is back in Jerusalem, use your power to conquer the nations for Israel”. Especially, the psalmist wants God to dominate Egypt, the beast that dwells among the reeds (v. 30), as well as Egypt’s ally, Cush, which is Ethiopia.
In verses 32-35, the Psalmist broadens the scope of his prayer. He wanted all the nations of the earth to worship God, acknowledging his power and majesty. God is the one who rides in the heavens. That is a picture of God’s majesty and deity. It is the same as saying he rides on or comes with the clouds.
This is our prayer, too. Although Christ reigns in heaven, we long for him to return in glory and power, defeating all of his enemies, and ruling the nations. And while we wait, we obey his command to bring the gospel to the nations so that they will submit to him now in gladness rather than later in sorrow.
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