Reflections on Psalms 68

 Psalms 68(Contemporary English Version)

1. (A psalm and a song by David for the music leader.) Do something, God! Scatter your hateful enemies. Make them turn and run.
   
2. Scatter them like smoke! When you come near, make them melt like wax in a fire.
   
3. But let your people be happy and celebrate because of you.
   
4. Our God, you are the one who rides on the clouds, and we praise you. Your name is the LORD, and we celebrate as we worship you.
   
5. Our God, from your sacred home you take care of orphans and protect widows.
   
6. You find families for those who are lonely. You set prisoners free and let them prosper, but all who rebel will live in a scorching desert.
   
7. You set your people free, and you led them through the desert.
   
8. God of Israel, the earth trembled, and rain poured down. You alone are the God who rules from Mount Sinai.
   
9. When your land was thirsty, you sent showers to refresh it.
   
10. Your people settled there, and you were generous to everyone in need.
    
11. You gave the command, and a chorus of women told what had happened:
    
12. "Kings and their armies retreated and ran, and everything they left is now being divided.
    
13. And for those who stayed back to guard the sheep, there are metal doves with silver-coated wings and shiny gold feathers."
    
14. God All-Powerful, you scattered the kings like snow falling on Mount Zalmon.
    
15. Our LORD and our God, Bashan is a mighty mountain covered with peaks.
    
16. Why is it jealous of Zion, the mountain you chose as your home forever?
    
17. When you, LORD God, appeared to your people at Sinai, you came with thousands of mighty chariots.
    
18. When you climbed the high mountain, you took prisoners with you and were given gifts. Your enemies didn't want you to live there, but they gave you gifts.
    
19. We praise you, Lord God! You treat us with kindness day after day, and you rescue us.
    
20. You always protect us and save us from death.
    
21. Our Lord and our God, your terrible enemies are ready for war, but you will crush their skulls.
    
22. You promised to bring them from Bashan and from the deepest sea.
    
23. Then we could stomp on their blood, and our dogs could chew on their bones.
    
24. We have seen crowds marching to your place of worship, our God and King.
    
25. The singers come first, and then the musicians, surrounded by young women playing tambourines.
    
26. They come shouting, "People of Israel, praise the LORD God!"
    
27. The small tribe of Benjamin leads the way, followed by the leaders from Judah. Then come the leaders from Zebulun and Naphtali.
    
28. Our God, show your strength! Show us once again.
    
29. Then kings will bring gifts to your temple in Jerusalem.
    
30. Punish that animal that lives in the swamp! Punish that nation whose leaders and people are like wild bulls. Make them come crawling with gifts of silver. Scatter those nations that enjoy making war.
    
31. Force the Egyptians to bring gifts of bronze; make the Ethiopians hurry to offer presents.
    
32. Now sing praises to God! Every kingdom on earth, sing to the Lord!
    
33. Praise the one who rides across the ancient skies; listen as he speaks with a mighty voice.
    
34. Tell about God's power! He is honored in Israel, and he rules the skies.
    
35. The God of Israel is fearsome in his temple, and he makes us strong. Let's praise our God!

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Though Psalms 68 was likely composed to celebrate a particular event in which the ark of the covenant was returned to Mount Zion after being captured by the Philistines, the psalm pictures a victorious journey of the ark from Mount Sinai and the time of Israel's journey from Egypt through the wilderness, eventually arriving at Mount Zion in Jerusalem when David captured the city and made it the capitol city of Israel and the home of the ark and later of God's temple. It was at Mount Sinai that God gave Israel the covenant and the ark was constructed, so this was the beginning of that journey. And it was Mount Zion where God's temple was eventually erected and the ark found its permanent home. Verse 16 imagines the other mountains of the Hermon mountain range being jealous with God's selection of Mount Zion for His dwelling place.

In the psalm, God is portrayed as One who leads His people to victory over their enemies. But they are the enemies of His people because they are His enemies, and His people are happy when He crushes these enemies and they have peace. But in the psalm, God is not only portrayed as a victorious God over the wicked, but as a compassionate God of the fatherless, the widows, the deserted, and those who are imprisoned. Therefore, He becomes a father to the fatherless, a champion of the widow, provides a home for the deserted, and leads the prisoner to prosperity. By contrast He leaves the rebellious in their desolate condition, living "in a scorched land." (68:6)

Praise to God is encourage for "God is our salvation," and "Day after day He bears our burdens." (68:19) In the following verses examples are given. In the concluding verses, following examples of God's greatness, the people are again encouraged to praise the Lord, singing praise to Him. This time the praise is aimed at who He is rather than what He does for His people. He is powerful and awe-inspiring, and He gives power and strength to His people.