Psalms 68:1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm [or] Song of David. » Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. _A Psalm or Song of David_] Made at that time when, having overcome his enemies, he brought _arcam in arcem,_ the ark of God into the tower of... [ Continue Reading ]
As smoke is driven away, [so] drive [them] away: as wax melteth before the fire, [so] let the wicked perish at the presence of God. Ver. 2. _As smoke is driven away, &c._] Smoke at first sight seemeth formidable, but soon vanisheth; and the higher it ascendeth the sooner it is dissipated: so here.... [ Continue Reading ]
But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. Ver. 3. _But let the righteous be glad_] When he seeth the vengeance, Psalms 58:10 _See Trapp on "_ Psa 58:10 _"_ while this wise King scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them, Proverbs 20:... [ Continue Reading ]
Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. Ver. 4. _Sing unto God, sing praises_] _Cantate, Psallite,_ do it daily and duly, not in a customary, formal, bedulling way. For a help hereunto was this psalm penned, _quo nihil... [ Continue Reading ]
A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, [is] God in his holy habitation. Ver. 5. _A father of the fatherless, &c._] _Pupillorum pater, et viduarum vindex,_ a title that God much glorieth in; and although he rideth upon the heavens, and is higher than the highest, yet so low stoopeth... [ Continue Reading ]
God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry [land]. Ver. 6. _God setteth the solitary in families_] _i.e._ He blesseth them with issue. See Psalms 113:9, and so he doth the Church, Isaiah 54:1, in these days of the gospe... [ Continue Reading ]
O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah: Ver. 7. _O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people_] Here the former benefits of God to his people are recited, _et additis miris coloribus depicta potius quam descripta,_ and rather depain... [ Continue Reading ]
The 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. Ver. 8. _The earth shook, the heavens also dropped_] _Velut in sudorem soluti,_ as if they had been put into a sweat; in so terrible a manner was the law give... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. Ver. 9. _Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain_] Heb. Thou didst speak out a rain of liberalities. Spiritually this meaneth the doctrine of the gospel, Deuteronomy 32:2 Isa 45:8 Hosea 14:6,... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor. Ver. 10. _Thy congregation hath dwelt therein_] _Pecus tuum,_ thy cattle, so some render it, and interpret it as the flocks and herds, whereby of his goodness God prepared for his poor, those creatures bei... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord gave the word: great [was] the company of those that published [it]._ Ver. 11. _The Lord gave the word_] That is, the occasion. _De victu dixit, nunc de victoria,_ saith Vatablus; how God provided his people of victuals the psalmist had told us, now of the victory; the good news whereof s... [ Continue Reading ]
Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil. Ver. 12. _Kings of armies did flee apace_] Heb. did flee, did flee. Or, shall flee, shall flee; which one interpreteth of devils (called principalities and powers), formerly using to give oracles; but after Christ's bir... [ Continue Reading ]
Though 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. Ver. 13. _Though ye have lien among the pots_] _Inter Chytropodas. Quasi obruti toti et oppleti fuligine et tenebris,_ black and sooty, as the black guard of an army,... [ Continue Reading ]
When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was [white] as snow in Salmon. Ver. 14. _When the Almighty scattered kings in it_] _i.e._ In the wilderness as they passed; or in Canaan which they possessed, according to Psalms 68:1. Or, scattered kings for her, that is, for his Church, or for her that... [ Continue Reading ]
The hill of God [is as] the hill of Bashan; an high hill [as] the hill of Bashan. Ver. 15. _The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan_] Bashan was fat and fertile, but Sion was better; because the place where God's honour dwelled, any relation to whom doth greatly ennoble any place or person: so Gen... [ Continue Reading ]
Why leap ye, ye high hills? [this is] the hill [which] God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell [in it] for ever. Ver. 16. _Why leap ye, ye high hills?_] Why do ye pride and please yourselves in your privileges of nature, so far above this of Sion? _Quare contenditis, montes gibbosi?_ so... [ Continue Reading ]
The chariots of God [are] twenty thousand, [even] thousands of angels: the Lord [is] among them, [as in] Sinai, in the holy [place]. Ver. 17. _The chariots of God are twenty thousand_] Heb. The chariot, to note the joint service of all the angels, who are here called Shinan, of their changeableness... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou 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]. Ver. 18. _Thou hast ascended on high_] As a conqueror doth on his triumphal chariot; the Romans ascended up to the Capitol, lead... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed [be] the Lord, [who] daily loadeth us [with benefits, even] the God of our salvation. Selah. Ver. 19. _Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us_] _sc._ With blessings, or with crosses turned into blessings, as being sanctified, and having their properties altered; for of themselves they ar... [ Continue Reading ]
Psalms 68:20 [He that is] our God [is] the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord [belong] the issues from death. Ver. 20. _He that is our God, is the God of salvation_] Or, This God is unto us a God of salvation, in the plural, so that he can save us, and doth, from a thousand deaths and dangers;... [ Continue Reading ]
_But God shall wound the head of his enemies, [and] the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses._ Ver. 21. _But God shall wound the head of his enemies_] _Cruentabit caput,_ a wound in the head if deep (and God strikes no small blows) is mortal. Christ will break the head of... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring [my people] again from the depths of the sea: Ver. 22. _The Lord said_] That is assurance good enough. _ I will bring again from Bashan_] Og the giant's country, where Israel was in no small distress and danger till that monster was taken... [ Continue Reading ]
That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of [thine] enemies, [and] the tongue of thy dogs in the same. Ver. 23. _That thy foot may be dipped_] Heb. redded, imbrued, made gore bloody. Hereby is implied a very great slaughter. Confer Revelation 19:17,18; Revelation 19:21 .... [ Continue Reading ]
They have seen thy goings, O God; [even] the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary. Ver. 24. _They have seen thy goings, O God_] Namely, the holy manner of conducting the ark with even and proportionable restings and settings down (Diod.). See 2 Samuel 6:13. The ark is here and elsewhere call... [ Continue Reading ]
The singers went before, the players on instruments [followed] after; among [them were] the damsels playing with timbrels. Ver. 25. _The singers went before, &c._] Thus they were marshalled, when the ark was conducted to Mount Sion, everything being done decently and in order. Christ ascending into... [ Continue Reading ]
Bless ye God in the congregations, [even] the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. Ver. 26. _Bless ye God in the congregations_] _i.e._ _Catervatim ac turmatim,_ by troops and companies. _ Even the Lord from the fountain of Israel_] That is, from the heart, say some, which is the true fountain of pra... [ Continue Reading ]
There [is] little Benjamin [with] their ruler, the princes of Judah [and] their council, the princes of Zebulun, [and] the princes of Naphtali. Ver. 27. _There is little Benjamin with their ruler_] Though before they had stood out for Saul and his house, yet now they bore a part in this solemn cele... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us. Ver. 28. _Thy God hath commanded thy strength_] A brave expression, admired by Longinus, a heathen rhetorician. See the like Deu 28:8; Psalms 33:9; Psalms 42:8; Psalms 44:4. God both made and ruleth the wor... [ Continue Reading ]
Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee. Ver. 29. _Because of thy temple_] Or, out of thy temple at Jerusalem, _q.d._ strengthen us out of thy temple, out of the fulness that is in thy Son, thereby typified. _ Shall kings bring presents unto thee_] _See Trapp on "_... [ Continue Reading ]
Rebuke 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. Ver. 30. _Rebuke the company of spearmen_] Or, lancemen; Heb. the beast of the reeds; that is, say some, v... [ Continue Reading ]
Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. Ver. 31. _Princes shall come out of Egypt_] The Gentiles shall one day be called, and caused _Deum verum cognoscere et colere; _ even Egypt, that archenemy of the Church; and Ethiopia, the offspring of cursed Ham.... [ Continue Reading ]
Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah: Ver. 32. _Siny unto God, ye kingdoms_] No such joy as that of the converted; Isaiah 35:10, "The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads," &c. Bernard, for a cer... [ Continue Reading ]
To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, [which were] of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, [and that] a mighty voice. Ver. 33. _To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens_] _i.e._ The highest heaven, Deuteronomy 10:14 . _ Which were of old_] And do still remain in the same state. _... [ Continue Reading ]
Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency [is] over Israel, and his strength [is] in the clouds. Ver. 34. _Ascribe ye strength unto God_] The high thunderer, υψιβρεμετης (Altitonans); acknowledge your own nothingness, submit to his government. _ His excellency is over Israel, and his strength,... [ Continue Reading ]
O 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. Ver. 35. _O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places_] So the sanctuary is called, because divided into three parts; and here hence God was terrible... [ Continue Reading ]