1To the chief MusicianH5329, A PsalmH4210 or SongH7892 of DavidH1732. Let GodH430 ariseH6965, let his enemiesH341 be scatteredH6327 : let them also that hateH8130 him fleeH5127 beforeH6440 him. 2As smokeH6227 is driven awayH5086, so drive them awayH5086 : as waxH1749 meltethH4549 beforeH6440 the fireH784, so let the wickedH7563 perishH6 at the presenceH6440 of GodH430. 3But let the righteousH6662 be gladH8055 ; let them rejoiceH5970 beforeH6440 GodH430: yea, let them exceedinglyH8057 rejoiceH7797 . 4SingH7891 unto GodH430, sing praisesH2167 to his nameH8034: extolH5549 him that ridethH7392 upon the heavensH6160 by his nameH8034 JAHH3050, and rejoiceH5937 beforeH6440 him. 5A fatherH1 of the fatherlessH3490, and a judgeH1781 of the widowsH490, is GodH430 in his holyH6944 habitationH4583. 6GodH430 settethH3427 the solitaryH3173 in familiesH1004: he bringeth outH3318 those which are boundH615 with chainsH3574: but the rebelliousH5637 dwellH7931 in a dryH6707 land. 7O GodH430, when thou wentest forthH3318 beforeH6440 thy peopleH5971, when thou didst marchH6805 through the wildernessH3452; SelahH5542: 8The earthH776 shookH7493, the heavensH8064 also droppedH5197 at the presenceH6440 of GodH430: even SinaiH5514 itselfH2088 was moved at the presenceH6440 of GodH430, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478. 9Thou, O GodH430, didst sendH5130 a plentifulH5071 rainH1653, whereby thou didst confirmH3559 thine inheritanceH5159, when it was wearyH3811 . 10Thy congregationH2416 hath dweltH3427 therein: thou, O GodH430, hast preparedH3559 of thy goodnessH2896 for the poorH6041. 11The LordH136 gaveH5414 the wordH562: greatH7227 was the companyH6635 of those that publishedH1319 it. 12KingsH4428 of armiesH6635 did fleeH5074 apaceH5074 : and she that tarriedH5116 at homeH1004 dividedH2505 the spoilH7998. 13Though ye have lienH7901 among the potsH8240, yet shall ye be as the wingsH3671 of a doveH3123 coveredH2645 with silverH3701, and her feathersH84 with yellowH3422 goldH2742. 14When the AlmightyH7706 scatteredH6566 kingsH4428 in it, it was white as snowH7949 in SalmonH6756. 15The hillH2022 of GodH430 is as the hillH2022 of BashanH1316; an highH1386 hillH2022 as the hillH2022 of BashanH1316. 16Why leapH7520 ye, ye highH1386 hillsH2022? this is the hillH2022 which GodH430 desirethH2530 to dwell inH3427 ; yea, the LORDH3068 will dwellH7931 in it for everH5331. 17The chariotsH7393 of GodH430 are twenty thousandH7239, even thousandsH505 of angelsH8136: the LordH136 is among them, as in SinaiH5514, in the holyH6944 place. 18Thou hast ascendedH5927 on highH4791, thou hast led captivityH7628 captiveH7617 : thou hast receivedH3947 giftsH4979 for menH120; yea, for the rebelliousH5637 also, that the LORDH3050 GodH430 might dwellH7931 among them. 19BlessedH1288 be the LordH136, who dailyH3117 H3117 loadethH6006 us with benefits, even the GodH410 of our salvationH3444. SelahH5542. 20He that is our GodH410 is the GodH410 of salvationH4190; and unto GODH3069 the LordH136 belong the issuesH8444 from deathH4194. 21But GodH430 shall woundH4272 the headH7218 of his enemiesH341, and the hairyH8181 scalpH6936 of such an one as goeth on stillH1980 in his trespassesH817. 22The LordH136 saidH559, I will bring againH7725 from BashanH1316, I will bring my people againH7725 from the depthsH4688 of the seaH3220: 23That thy footH7272 may be dippedH4272 in the bloodH1818 of thine enemiesH341, and the tongueH3956 of thy dogsH3611 in the same. 24They have seenH7200 thy goingsH1979, O GodH430; even the goingsH1979 of my GodH410, my KingH4428, in the sanctuaryH6944. 25The singersH7891 went beforeH6923, the players on instrumentsH5059 followed afterH310; amongH8432 them were the damselsH5959 playing with timbrelsH8608 . 26BlessH1288 ye GodH430 in the congregationsH4721, even the LordH136, from the fountainH4726 of IsraelH3478. 27There is littleH6810 BenjaminH1144 with their rulerH7287, the princesH8269 of JudahH3063 and their councilH7277, the princesH8269 of ZebulunH2074, and the princesH8269 of NaphtaliH5321. 28Thy GodH430 hath commandedH6680 thy strengthH5797: strengthenH5810, O GodH430, that whichH2098 thou hast wroughtH6466 for us. 29Because of thy templeH1964 at JerusalemH3389 shall kingsH4428 bringH2986 presentsH7862 unto thee. 30RebukeH1605 the companyH2416 of spearmenH7070, the multitudeH5712 of the bullsH47, with the calvesH5695 of the peopleH5971, till every one submitH7511 himself with piecesH7518 of silverH3701: scatterH967 thou the peopleH5971 that delightH2654 in warH7128. 31PrincesH2831 shall come outH857 of EgyptH4714; EthiopiaH3568 shall soon stretch outH7323 her handsH3027 unto GodH430. 32SingH7891 unto GodH430, ye kingdomsH4467 of the earthH776; O sing praisesH2167 unto the LordH136; SelahH5542: 33To him that ridethH7392 upon the heavensH8064 of heavensH8064, which were of oldH6924; lo, he doth send outH5414 his voiceH6963, and that a mightyH5797 voiceH6963. 34AscribeH5414 ye strengthH5797 unto GodH430: his excellencyH1346 is over IsraelH3478, and his strengthH5797 is in the cloudsH7834. 35O GodH430, thou art terribleH3372 out of thy holy placesH4720: the GodH410 of IsraelH3478 is he that givethH5414 strengthH5797 and powerH8592 unto his peopleH5971. BlessedH1288 be GodH430.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 This is a Psalm-song (see on
Ps 30:1, title), perhaps suggested by David's victories, which secured his throne and gave rest to the nation. In general terms, the judgment of God on the wicked, and the equity and goodness of His government to the pious, are celebrated. The sentiment is illustrated by examples of God's dealings, cited from the Jewish history and related in highly poetical terms. Hence the writer intimates an expectation of equal and even greater triumphs and summons all nations to unite in praises of the God of Israel. The Psalm is evidently typical of the relation which God, in the person of His Son, sustains to the Church (compare
Ps 68:18). (Psa. 68:1-35)
Compare
Num 10:35;
Ps 1:4;
Ps 22:14, on the figures here used.
before him--as in
Ps 68:2, from His presence, as dreaded; but in
Ps 68:3, in His presence, as under His protection (
Ps 61:7).
3 the righteous--all truly pious, whether of Israel or not.
4 extol him . . . heavens--literally, "cast up for Him who rideth in the deserts," or "wilderness" (compare
Ps 68:7), alluding to the poetical representation of His leading His people in the wilderness as a conqueror, before whom a way is to be prepared, or "cast up" (compare
Isa 40:3;
Isa 62:10).
by his name JAH--or, "Jehovah," of which it is a contraction (
Exod 15:3;
Isa 12:2) (Hebrew).
name--or, "perfections" (
Ps 9:10;
Ps 20:1), which--
5 are illustrated by the protection to the helpless, vindication of the innocent, and punishment of rebels, ascribed to Him.
6 setteth the solitary in families--literally, "settleth the lonely" (as wanderers) "at home." Though a general truth, there is perhaps allusion to the wandering and settlement of the Israelites.
rebellious dwell in a dry land--removed from all the comforts of home.
7 (Compare
Exod 19:16-
Exod 19:18).
thou wentest--in the pillar of fire.
thou didst march--literally, "in Thy tread," Thy majestic movement.
8 even Sinai itself--literally, "that Sinai," as in
Judg 5:5.
9 a plentiful rain--a rain of gifts, as manna and quails.
10 Thy congregation--literally, "troop," as in
2Sam 23:11,
2Sam 23:13 --the military aspect of the people being prominent, according to the figures of the context.
therein--that is, in the land of promise.
the poor--Thy humble people (
Ps 68:9; compare
Ps 10:17;
Ps 12:5).
11 gave the word--that is, of triumph.
company--or, choir of females, celebrating victory (
Exod 15:20).
12 Kings of armies--that is, with their armies.
she that . . . at home--Mostly women so remained, and the ease of victory appears in that such, without danger, quietly enjoyed the spoils.
13 Some translate this, "When ye shall lie between the borders, ye shall," &c., comparing the peaceful rest in the borders or limits of the promised land to the proverbial beauty of a gentle dove. Others understand by the word rendered "pots," the smoked sides of caves, in which the Israelites took refuge from enemies in the times of the judges; or, taking the whole figuratively, the rows of stones on which cooking vessels were hung; and thus that a contrast is drawn between their former low and afflicted state and their succeeding prosperity. In either case, a state of quiet and peace is described by a beautiful figure.
14 Their enemies dispersed, the contrast of their prosperity with their former distress is represented by that of the snow with the dark and somber shades of Salmon.
15 Mountains are often symbols of nations (
Ps 46:2;
Ps 65:6). That of Bashan, northeast of Palestine, denotes a heathen nation, which is described as a "hill of God," or a great hill. Such are represented as envious of the hill (Zion) on which God resides;
17 and, to the assertion of God's purpose to make it His dwelling, is added evidence of His protecting care. He is described as in the midst of His heavenly armies--
thousands of angels--literally, "thousands of repetitions," or, "thousands of thousands"--that is, of chariots. The word "angels" was perhaps introduced in our version, from
Deut 33:2, and
Gal 3:19. They are, of course, implied as conductors of the chariots.
as . . . Sinai, in the holy place--that is, He has appeared in Zion as once in Sinai.
18 From the scene of conquest He ascends to His throne, leading--
captivity captive--or, "many captives captive" (
Judg 5:12).
received gifts for men--accepting their homage, even when forced, as that of rebels.
that the Lord God might dwell--or literally, "to dwell, O Lord God" (compare
Ps 68:16) --that is, to make this hill, His people or Church, His dwelling. This Psalm typifies the conquests of the Church under her divine leader, Christ. He, indeed, "who was with the Church in the wilderness" (
Acts 7:38) is the Lord, described in this ideal ascension. Hence Paul (
Eph 4:8) applies this language to describe His real ascension, when, having conquered sin, death, and hell, the Lord of glory triumphantly entered heaven, attended by throngs of adoring angels, to sit on the throne and wield the scepter of an eternal dominion. The phrase "received gifts for (or literally, among) men" is by Paul, "gave gifts to men." Both describe the acts of a conqueror, who receives and distributes spoils. The Psalmist uses "receiving" as evincing the success, Paul "gave" as the act, of the conqueror, who, having subdued his enemies, proceeds to reward his friends. The special application of the passage by Paul was in proof of Christ's exaltation. What the Old Testament represents of His descending and ascending corresponds with His history. He who descended is the same who has ascended. As then ascension was an element of His triumph, so is it now; and He, who, in His humiliation, must be recognized as our vicarious sacrifice and the High Priest of our profession, must also be adored as Head of His Church and author of all her spiritual benefits.
19 God daily and fully supplies us. The issues or escapes from death are under His control, who is the God that saves us, and destroys His and our enemies.
21 wound the head--or, "violently destroy" (
Num 24:8;
Ps 110:6).
goeth on still in . . . trespasses--perseveringly impenitent.
22 Former examples of God's deliverance are generalized: as He has done, so He will do.
from Bashan--the farthest region; and--
depths of the sea--the severest afflictions. Out of all, God will bring them. The figures of
Ps 68:23 denote the completeness of the conquest, not implying any savage cruelty (compare
2Kgs 9:36;
Isa 63:1-
Isa 63:6;
Jer 15:3).
24 The triumphal procession, after the deliverance, is depicted.
They have seen--impersonally, "There have been seen."
the goings of my God--as leading the procession; the ark, the symbol of His presence, being in front. The various bands of music (
Ps 68:25) follow, and all who are--
26 from--or literally, "of"
the fountain of Israel--that is, lineal descendants of Jacob, are invited to unite in the doxology. Then by one of the nearest tribes, one of the most eminent, and two of the most remote, are represented the whole nation of Israel, passing forward (Num. 7:1-89).
28 Thanks for the past, and confident prayer for the future victories of Zion are mingled in a song of praise.
29 thy temple--literally, "over"
Jerusalem--His palace or residence (
Ps 5:7) symbolized His protecting presence among His people, and hence is the object of homage on the part of others.
30 The strongest nations are represented by the strongest beasts (compare Margin).
31 Princes--or, literally, "fat ones," the most eminent from the most wealthy, and the most distant nation, represent the universal subjection.
stretch out her hands--or, "make to run her hands," denoting haste.
32 To Him who is presented as riding in triumph through His ancient heavens and proclaiming His presence--to Him who, in nature, and still more in the wonders of His spiritual government, out of His holy place (
Ps 43:3), is terrible, who rules His Church, and, by His Church, rules the world in righteousness--let all nations and kingdoms give honor and power and dominion evermore.
