PSALM 68 THE ARGUMENT The occasion of this Psalm seems to have been David's translation of the ark to Zion, which was managed with great solemnity and devotion, and celebrated with some Psalms, and this among the rest. For the first words are the very same which Moses appointed for such occasions, N... [ Continue Reading ]
AS SMOKE IS DRIVEN AWAY; as smoke at first mounts high and fills a great space of air, but speedily vanisheth into air, or is dispersed with the wind.... [ Continue Reading ]
For God's gracious appearance on their behalf, and for his settled presence with them.... [ Continue Reading ]
EXTOL HIM, by praising him; of which this verb is used, PROVERBS 4:8. Or rather, _raise up or prepare the way for him_; for so this word is commonly used, as ISAIAH 57:14, ISAIAH 57:10, and elsewhere. And this doubtless they did for this solemnity of bringing the ark to Zion. Compare ISAIAH 40:3. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
He now enters upon some of the matters or reasons for which God is to be extolled; whereof this is one, that he is the patron of such as are injured and oppressed, and have not power to help themselves. IN HIS HOLY HABITATION; either in his tabernacle, or in heaven. Though he dwells there, yet the e... [ Continue Reading ]
SETTETH THE SOLITARY IN FAMILIES; such as were single and solitary he blesseth with a wife and children, as he did Abraham. _Houses_ are oft put for posterity, as EXODUS 1:21 RUTH 4:11 2 SAMUEL 7:11. BRINGETH OUT THOSE WHICH ARE BOUND WITH CHAINS; he setteth captives and prisoners at liberty, as he... [ Continue Reading ]
In the cloudy pillar, as their Captain leading them out of Egypt.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EARTH; either, 1. Metonymically, the inhabitants of those parts of the earth, by comparing EXODUS 15:14. Or, 2. Properly, by comparing PSALMS 114:5. There was a great earthquake, as a token of God's dreadful presence. DROPPED, i.e. poured down great showers, which accompanied those mighty thun... [ Continue Reading ]
SEND A PLENTIFUL RAIN; either, 1. In the wilderness; where they oft wanted water, and were by God's extraordinary care supplied with it. Or rather, 2. In the land of Canaan, which he calls God's inheritance in the next words; as also EXODUS 15:17, and in many other places of Scripture; in which God... [ Continue Reading ]
THY CONGREGATION; thy people of Israel, who are all united in one body under thee, their Head and Governor. For though this word commonly signifies _living creatures_, yet sometimes it signifies a company of men, as here below, PSALMS 68:31, and 2 SAMUEL 23:13, compared with 1 CHRONICLES 11:15 PSALM... [ Continue Reading ]
GAVE THE WORD, i.e. the matter of the word or discourse here following. He put this triumphant song into their mouths; he gave his people all those successes and victories which are here celebrated. Or, _gave the matter_ or _thing_ which was published. GREAT WAS THE COMPANY OF THOSE THAT PUBLISHED I... [ Continue Reading ]
KINGS OF ARMIES; the kings of Canaan and other nations which came forth against the Israelites, accompanied with great and numerous armies. THE SPOIL was so much, that there was enough, not only for the proper use of those who took it, but also to be divided to their wives and children when they cam... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH YE, ye Israelites, to whom he now turneth his speech, HAVE LIEN AMONG THE POTS; like scullions, that commonly lie down in the kitchen among the pots or hearthstones, whereby they are very much discoloured and deformed; which is fitly opposed to the following beauty. Though you have been fille... [ Continue Reading ]
IN IT; in Canaan, at the coming of the Israelites thither. The land was as white as Mount Salmon is with the snow, which falls and lies for a long time upon it; which is opposed to the native obscurity of that mountain by the many shady trees which were there, JUDGES 9:48. But because there is nothi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HILL OF GOD, i.e. _of Zion_, the seat of God's ark. AS THE HILL OF BASHAN; equal to it, to wit, in height, as the next clause explains it; which yet is not to be understood of an external and visible height, for Zion was a low and little hill, and Bashan a very high hill; but of its spiritual he... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY LEAP YE? why do you triumph and boast of your height, and look upon poor Zion with scorn and contempt, as an obscure and inconsiderable hill, if compared with you? He speaks to the hills by a usual figure called _prosopopaeia_. This hill, though despicable in your eyes, is precious and honourabl... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHARIOTS OF GOD, i.e. the hosts or armies (whereof chariots were a great and eminent part in those times and places) which attend upon God to do his pleasure, and to fight for him and for his people. TWENTY THOUSAND, i.e. an innumerable company; a certain number being put for an uncertain, as PS... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST ASCENDED ON HIGH; having spoken of the Lord, and of his presence upon earth, he now turneth his speech to him, as is most usual in this book. And the contents of this verse do not agree to the present occasion of carrying the ark to Zion, but have a manifest reference to Christ, and to his... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO DAILY LOADETH US WITH BENEFITS; and besides that great and glorious blessing of his ascension which once he wrought for us, he is daily conferring new favours upon us. Heb. _who layeth load upon us_; which may be understood either, 1. Of the burden of afflictions, for which God's people have ca... [ Continue Reading ]
BELONG, i.e. they are only in his hand and power to dispose them as he pleaseth. THE ISSUES, Heb. _the outgoings_ or _evasions_, escapes or deliverances, as a Greek word of the same signification is used, 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13. _From death_; or, _in_ (as the Hebrew lamed is used, PSALMS 16:10, PSALMS... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEAD; either, 1. The political head, their ruler or rulers, the devil or other wicked Christians. Or rather, 2. The natural head, as appears from the following expression, added to explain this, and THE HAIRY SCALP; and he speaks of the heads or hairy scalps not of one, but of all his enemies;... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SAID; either within himself, he purposed or he promised; for so he had done by divers of his prophets, though not in the same words which are here used, yet to the same purpose. I WILL BRING AGAIN FROM BASHAN; I will repeat my ancient favours, and give my people as great deliverances as I f... [ Continue Reading ]
And as it was at the Red Sea and at Bashan before, so yet again thine enemies shall be slain in such great numbers, that thou mayst wade in their blood, and thy dogs lick it up in the field.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE SEEN: it is an indefinite expression; men saw and observed it, thy people to their comfort, and thine enemies with terror and astonishment. THY GOINGS; either, 1. How thou didst march before them through the Red Sea and the wilderness, even until thou didst bring them into Canaan, and aft... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SINGERS WENT BEFORE, THE PLAYERS ON INSTRUMENTS FOLLOWED AFTER; of which see 2 SAMUEL 6:15 1 CHRONICLES 13:8. Playing with timbrels, according to the usage of those times. See EXO 15, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Or, as it is rendered in our margin, and by many others, ye that are _of_ or _from the fountain of Israel, or Jacob_, i.e. all ye people of Israel, who are called the FOUNTAIN OF JACOB, DEUTERONOMY 33:28, and said to _come forth out of the waters of Judah_, ISAIAH 48:1, and consequently of _Jacob or... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS present in this solemn pomp of carrying the ark to Zion, under the conduct of David their king, LITTLE BENJAMIN. That tribe is called _little_, partly because it was the youngest, as being descended from Jacob's youngest son Benjamin; and principally because it was exceedingly diminished, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Having spoken of Israel, and of their several tribes, PSALMS 68:26,27, he now directeth his speech to them. HATH COMMANDED, i.e. hath ordained or effectually procured, as this word is oft used, as LEVITICUS 25:21 DEUTERONOMY 28:8 PSALMS 42:8, PSALMS 44:4. THY STRENGTH; all that strength and power wh... [ Continue Reading ]
THY TEMPLE; either, 1. The old tabernacle which then was; which is oft called by this name. But that was now at Gibeon, not at Jerusalem. Or rather, 2. The temple which Solomon should build, which David knew should be _very magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries_, as he saith, 1... [ Continue Reading ]
REBUKE, to wit, really; humble and chastise those that will not bring presents to thee, as the kings did, PSALMS 68:29, till they see their error and submit themselves, as it here follows. THE COMPANY; so this word signifies here above, PSALMS 68:11 2 SAMUEL 23:11 PSALMS 74:19. Or, _the beast_, or _... [ Continue Reading ]
EGYPT, ETHIOPIA: he names only these, as the great and ancient enemies of God, and of his people, and as a most wicked, and idolatrous, and incorrigible sort of men; see JEREMIAH 13:23 AMOS 9:7; but by them he synecdochically understands all other nations and people of the like character. STRETCH OU... [ Continue Reading ]
Not only Egypt and Ethiopia, but other kingdoms and nations also, who shall partake of the same grace with them.... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON THE HEAVENS; upon the highest heavens, as DEUTERONOMY 10:14, his truest and best sanctuary; by which expressions he prevents all mean and carnal conceptions of God, as if he were confined to the ark or tabernacle, and lifteth up the minds, both of Jews and Gentiles, to heaven, and representeth... [ Continue Reading ]
ASCRIBE YE STRENGTH UNTO GOD; acknowledge that he is mighty and able to do whatsoever he pleaseth for his people, or against his and their enemies. HIS EXCELLENCY; his excellent power and goodness. IS OVER ISRAEL; dwells among them, and is employed for them, as occasion requires. He is indeed the un... [ Continue Reading ]
TERRIBLE; or, _venerable_; deservedly to be both reverenced and feared. HOLY PLACES; or, _sanctuaries_. He useth the plural number; either, 1. Of the sanctuary in Zion, because the tabernacle and temple consisted of three parts; the court, the holy place, and the holy of holies. Or rather, 2. With... [ Continue Reading ]