The theme of this magnificent Psalm is the march of God to victory. It traces the establishment of His kingdom in Israel in the past; it looks forward to the defeat of all opposition in the future, until all the kingdoms of the world own the God of Israel as their Lord and pay Him homage. Every con... [ Continue Reading ]
God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered And they that hate him shall flee from his presence. Psalms 67 begins with an echo of the priestly blessing of Numbers 6:24 ff, and the opening words of Psalms 68 are based upon the prayer or watchword used when the Ark, the symbol of the Divine Pres... [ Continue Reading ]
The advent of God brings terror and destruction to His enemies, blessing and joy to His people.... [ Continue Reading ]
The verbs should be rendered as in Psalms 68:1 by futures: As smoke … so shalt thou drive them away: as wax … so shall the wicked perish at the presence of God. The smoke scattered by the wind is an apt emblem for total disappearance (Psalms 37:20; Hosea 13:3); the wax melted by the fire for unresis... [ Continue Reading ]
But the righteous shall be glad, shall exult at the presence of God; Yea, they shall rejoice with gladness. _The righteous_are the people of God, viewed in the light of their calling: _the wicked_are the heathen, regarded in the light of their general antagonism to God and His people. Cp. Habakkuk... [ Continue Reading ]
to _his name_ Praising Him for all that He has revealed Himself to be. Cp. Psalms 44:8; Exodus 3:15. _extol_&c. Render, Cast up a high way for him that rideth through the deserts; His name is JAH; and exult ye at his presence. God's advent is described under the figure of the progress of an Orie... [ Continue Reading ]
God's people are summoned to welcome Him and prepare the way for His coming: He is the champion of the weak and defenceless, the liberator of the captive.... [ Continue Reading ]
The orphan and the widow are typical examples of the friendless and unprotected who are under God's special guardianship (Psalms 10:14; Psalms 146:9; Hosea 14:3). They are the subjects of a special clause in the earliest legislation (Exodus 22:22 ff.), which is reechoed by the latest of the prophets... [ Continue Reading ]
God maketh the solitary to dwell in a house; He bringeth out prisoners into prosperity; But the stubborn dwell In a parched land. The verse describes general principles of God's dealings with men, yet with special allusion to the establishment of Israel in Canaan, to their liberation from the bon... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses are borrowed, with some omissions and alterations, from the Song of Deborah (Judges 5:4-5): "Jehovah, when thou wentest forth out of Seir, When thou didst march out of the field of Edom, The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, Yea, the clouds dropped water; The mountains quak... [ Continue Reading ]
The Exodus from Egypt and the Entry into Canaan.... [ Continue Reading ]
After this general introduction the Psalmist proceeds to review the past history of Israel in proof of God's victorious power and of His gracious love towards His people.... [ Continue Reading ]
_shook_ R.V. trembled. _dropped_ Torrents of rain accompanied the thunders and lightnings. Cp. Psalms 77:17 f. _at the presence of God_ Cp. Psalms 68:1. even _Sinai itself_was moved] R.V., Even yon Sinai (trembled). The words _yon Sinai_come in somewhat abruptly here, while in Judges they follow... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou, O God, didst send_&c. Or, dost send, a general truth, illustrated by God's dealings with Israel. The verse is explained by, many to refer to the manna and the quails which God -rained down" upon the Israelites (Exodus 16:4; Psalms 78:24; Psalms 78:27); or generally, to all the gifts and bless... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy congregation took up its abode therein: In thy goodness, O God, thou dost provide for the afflicted. The word rendered _congregation_, or, as R.V. marg., _troop_, or _family_, is a peculiar one. The corresponding Arabic word means "such a kindred group as was guided in war and on the march by... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord giveth the word: The women that publish the tidings are a great host. God's word is sovereign (Psalms 33:9; Isaiah 30:30). He has only to command, and the victory is won. Forthwith are heard the songs of the women proclaiming the good news. Victories were commonly celebrated by the Israel... [ Continue Reading ]
With a few graphic strokes the poet recalls the victories by which Canaan was won and retained. He refers to the times of the Judges as well as to the original conquest under Joshua.... [ Continue Reading ]
Kings of hosts do flee, do flee, And she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil. Psalms 68:12. contain allusions to the Song of Deborah and possibly to similar poems which have not been preserved to us. Many commentators regard them as the triumphal song of the women celebrating the victory; but... [ Continue Reading ]
An extremely difficult verse. It has been suggested that the second and third lines, like the first, are derived from some ancient poem now lost, and that to readers who could recognise the allusion they would be intelligible, though to us they are obscure. The A.V., which appears to contrast the sq... [ Continue Reading ]
Of this verse, as of Psalms 68:13, the meaning is uncertain. Possibly it too is a fragment, significant to those who remembered its original context, but necessarily obscure to us. It is doubtful, too, if the text is sound. _In it_, R.V. _therein_, must mean -in the land." _Salmon_, R.V. _Zalmon_, i... [ Continue Reading ]
A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan: An high-peaked mountain is the mountain of Bashan. Mount Hermon is probably meant, rather than the mountains of Bashan generally. It is the grandest of the mountains of Palestine, and was the northern boundary of Bashan (Deuteronomy 3:8). It has three s... [ Continue Reading ]
After the conquest of the land, God chose for His abode not the stately mountains of Bashan, whose natural preeminence might seem to mark them out for that privilege, but the insignificant hill of Zion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Why look ye enviously, ye high-peaked mountains, At the mountain which God hath desired for his abode? Yea, Jehovah will dwell in it for ever. The grander mountains of Bashan, not Hermon only, but the rugged basaltic mountains which rise in precipitous peaks, suggesting ideas of majesty, antiquit... [ Continue Reading ]
The chariots of God are in myriads, yea thousands upon thousands. God is represented as entering Zion in triumph with a vast retinue of the heavenly hosts. His chariots are not simply -twice ten thousand" but -counted by tens of thousands" (this is the idiomatic force of the dual termination), expl... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast ascended on high_ Lit. _thou hast gone up to the height_. Cp. Psalms 147:5. -The height" elsewhere means heaven, though we find such a phrase as -the height of Zion" (Jeremiah 31:12).Probably the poet did not make any sharp distinction between the triumphant return of Jehovah to heaven (a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed_be _the Lord_ We are again reminded of the Song of Deborah, Judges 5:2; Judges 5:9. who _daily loadeth us_with benefits] Better, as R.V., who daily beareth our burden: or, as Aq., Symm., Jer. and Targ., who daily beareth us. In Isaiah 46:3-4, the same word is used in the phrase, "O house o... [ Continue Reading ]
The second part of the Psalm (19 35) begins here. From reviewing the triumphs of God in the past the Psalmist turns to the present and the future. God is an ever-present Saviour; He will take vengeance on the enemies of His people.... [ Continue Reading ]
God is unto us a God of deliverances; And unto JEHOVAH the Lord belong the issues from death. The plural denotes mighty and manifold deliverances. Cp. Psalms 44:4. God is printed in capital letters in the A.V. because it represents the sacred Name, for which _Elôhîm_, -God," was substituted by the... [ Continue Reading ]
_But God shall wound the head_&c.) Yea, God shall smite through the head &c. Cp. Judges 5:26; Habakkuk 3:13-14. and _the hairy scalp_ Omit _and_. The warrior's long hair is mentioned not merely as "a sign of exuberant strength and impenitent pride," but in allusion to the ancient practice of allowi... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord said_ The Psalmist either quotes some ancient promise, like that of Numbers 21:34, or proclaims a fresh message from God with the authority and in the language of a prophet: _The Lord saith_. But what is the object of the verb _I will bring again_? (1) If with A.V. we supply _my people_, t... [ Continue Reading ]
That thou mayest dip thy foot in blood, That the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from (thine) enemies. This rendering of the R.V. probably gives the right sense, though the Heb. presents some difficulties. For _dip_should probably be read _wash_, as in Psalms 58:10, which passage (with the... [ Continue Reading ]
_They have seen_ The subject is significantly indefinite: it includes all men, who have been the spectators of the conflict between God and His enemies. Cp. Psalms 98:1-3; Isaiah 40:5. _thy goings_ The festal procession which celebrates God's victory on behalf of His people. He comes in triumph onc... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses describe a solemn procession of thanksgiving to the Temple. But is it past, present, or future? Delitzsch is right when he says that it is "not the rejoicing over a victory lately won, not the rejoicing over the deliverance at the Red Sea in the days of old, but the rejoicing of Israel... [ Continue Reading ]
_the players on instruments_ R.V. as P.B.V., the minstrels. _among_them were _the damsels_ An ungrammatical rendering. R.V. rightly, in the midst of the damsels. On either side of the procession of singers and minstrels playing upon stringed instruments were the damsels beating their timbrels (tamb... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is best regarded as a part of the processional hymn. Cp. Judges 5:2; Judges 5:9. _from the fountain of Israel_ Kay and Cheyne compare Psalms 118:26; Psalms 135:21, and suppose that -the fountain of Israel" is the Temple. But it is better to render with R.V., and A.V. marg., (ye that are)... [ Continue Reading ]
The representatives of four tribes are specified as taking part in the procession. Judah and Benjamin naturally represent the South. Jerusalem was on the boundary between them; and the Temple was in the territory assigned to Benjamin (Deuteronomy 33:12; Joshua 18:16), which may account for the place... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy God_&c. Israel is addressed; the first line is a summary statement of past experience, introduced as the ground of the prayer which follows. In past times God has given Israel strength; therefore Israel can now pray with confidence for the renewal and continuance of His support. But the Ancient... [ Continue Reading ]
The purpose and sequel of the restoration of Israel is the conversion of the world; and the Psalmist now prays that God will display His strength and subdue all opposition, and sees the noblest of the nations hastening to pay Him homage.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because of thy temple at Jerusalem_ To the age of the Return the restored Temple was the visible symbol and proof that Jehovah had come back to His ancient dwelling-place (Psalms 122:9). It was to be the occasion and the centre of fresh homage. Cp. Isaiah 60:7 ff; Isaiah 66:20; Haggai 2:7; Zecharia... [ Continue Reading ]
_the company of spearmen_ Better as R.V., the wild beast of the reeds, i.e. the crocodile, or rather, the hippopotamus, which is described in Job 40:21 as lying "in the covert of the reed." It is a symbolical designation of Egypt, which is mentioned either as the typical enemy of Israel, or with ref... [ Continue Reading ]
_Princes_ Or, magnates. LXX πρέσβεις, _ambassadors_. The word occurs here only, and is of doubtful meaning. _shall soon stretch out_&c. R.V., shall haste to stretch out her hands unto God, either in token of submission (cp. Lat. _dare manus_); or in supplication (cp. Isaiah 45:14); or with gifts of... [ Continue Reading ]
The kingdoms of the earth are invited to reecho Israel's chorus of praise, Psalms 68:4. Cp. Revelation 11:15 The musical interlude (_Selah_) may suggest the outbreak of the chorus of universal praise.... [ Continue Reading ]
All nations are summoned to unite in praising Israel's God.... [ Continue Reading ]
_To him that rideth_&c. The same God who "rides through the deserts" (Psalms 68:4) when He intervenes in human affairs is supremely exalted in the highest heavens (Deuteronomy 10:14; 1 Kings 8:27; Nehemiah 9:6), which like the mountains (Deuteronomy 33:15) are of primeval antiquity. which were _of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ascribe_&c. Lit. as in Psalms 29:1, _give_. Acknowledge by the tribute of your praises the power which is His and which He exercises in the world. _His excellency_, or _majesty, is over Israel_to protect and bless, _and his strength is in the skies_, supreme not on earth alone, but throughout the... [ Continue Reading ]
_O God_, thou art _terrible_&c. This rendering is retained in R.V., but grammar requires us to render (cp. R.V. marg.); Terrible is God out of thy sanctuary. Israel is addressed: and the verse is the answer of the nations to the summons of Psalms 68:34, acknowledging the awful might (Exodus 15:11; D... [ Continue Reading ]