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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Psalm Chapter 68

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: David, Asaph, Solomon, Heman, Ethan, Moses, and the Sons of Korah
Date Penned: (1440-586 BC)
Overview: Poetry for the Expression of Praise and Worship to God (c 1-150)
Theme: The Second Book of Psalms (c 42-72)
Message: Remembering God's Glory and Power (v 1-35)

Psalms 68 Commentary

(68:1) Celebrating the Lord -This psalm begins just like Moses' cry in Numbers 10:35 as the Israelites followed the ark of the covenant. It celebrates the reign of God and traces his march from Sinai to Zion (68:7, 16-18, 24). He rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, guided his people through the wilderness, brought them into the Promised Land, and established his kingdom there. This psalm is also associated with the time when David led the joyous procession to bring the ark from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:11-15). 


(68:3-6) Sing Praises to the Lord - With shouts of praise and the sound of trumpets, David and his people took the holy ark toward Mount Zion (2 Samuel 6:15). It was a time to sing praises to the Lord, whose presence brings great joy. God brings hope for orphans, widows, prisoners, and all other lonely people, and he calls us to join him in bringing that hope. Our churches should be safe and welcoming places for people who need help. We become more like Jesus when we help others. 

(68:4-6) Praise to God - David praised God for his protection and provision. When we see God's true majesty, our response should be to praise him. This psalm was a song of faith because many of these benefits had not vet come true in David's time. It should also be our song of faith. We must continue to trust God because, in time, he will fulfill all his promises. 

(68:8) God's Words and Promises - Mount Sinai, also called Mount Horeb, had a prominent role in Israelite history. It was at Mount Sinai that God met Moses and commissioned him to lead Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 3:1-10). It was to Mount Sinai that the nation of Israel returned and received God's laws (Exodus 19:1-3), and God's presence made the entire mountain tremble (Exodus 19:18). This sacred mountain was a constant reminder of God's words and promises to Israel 

(68:13) The Dove - The dove is a symbol of God's beloved Israel, a nation so protected and blessed that the Israelites were able to take silver and gold from their enemies before the battle started, even though the people remained in their camp. These words use exaggeration to picture God's complete victory. 

(68:15-16) The Site of the Temple - Bashan, the land northeast of Israel, was the home of mighty mountains, including Mount Hermon, the tallest and most awesome mountain in the region. God's choice of Mount Zion, a foothill by comparison, for the site of the temple led the psalm writer to poetically describe the envy of the mountains of Bashan 

(68:17) The Moving of the Ark - This psalm celebrates the final stages of a journey that began at Mount Sinai with the construction of the ark of the covenant and finally ended at Mount Zion, the site of the sanctuary and the chosen dwelling place of God among his people. It may describe the moving of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. 

(68:18) Victory Over Evil - Ephesians 4:8 applies this verse to the ministry of the ascended Christ. It celebrates his victory over evil, and it assures all of us who believe in Christ that by trusting him we can overcome evil. 

(68:21) Free from Sin and Death - God sets his people free and crushes his enemies. When God saves us, he frees us from sin and death. Those who refuse to turn to God will be crushed by sin and death. They will be trapped by the sin they loved and destroyed by the death they feared. How much better the future will be for those who love God and no longer need to fear God's judgment on sin. power and unspeakable majesty leave us breathless. How fortunate we are that God cares for us. 

(68:34.35) The Presence of the Lord - When we come into the presence of the Lord and consider all that he has done for us, we should feel an overwhelming sense of awe. Nature surrounds us with countless signs of God's wonderful power. His unlimited power and unspeakable majesty leave us breathless in his presence. How fortunate we are that he cares for us


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Our God is Faithful


Each day, we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter, making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Psalms with Chapter 68. In our text today, we see a theme of remembering God's Glory and Power of a God who never changes. In applying, we see that remembering what God has done in the past will encourage us in the present and future. We need not worry about God's provisions or protection. This truth should cause us to walk boldly by faith to face today's and tomorrow's challenges. How about you? Do you remember how God has been faithful to you in the past so you will have faith to face the future? Let us learn from our text today to remember the past and how faithful God is to us so that we can meet the challenges of today.

 

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Psalm 68

Psalm 68

 1Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

 2As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

 3But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

 4Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

 5A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

 6God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

 7O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:

 8The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

 9Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

 10Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.

 11The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

 12Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

 13Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

 14When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.

 15The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.

 16Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.

 17The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

 18Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

 19Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

 20He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.

 21But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.

 22The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:

 23That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.

 24They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.

 25The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.

 26Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.

 27There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

 28Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.

 29Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

 30Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.

 31Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

 32Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:

 33To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.

 34Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

 35O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.