Psalms 68:8

_O GOD, WHEN THOU WENTEST FORTH BEFORE THY PEOPLE, WHEN THOU DIDST MARCH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS; SELAH:_ -God's doings for His people in the wilderness; His giving them the law at Sinai; His sustaining and reviving them until He led them into the land of promise. Verse 7,8. O GOD, WHEN THOU WENTEST FORTH BEFORE THY PEOPLE, WHEN THOU DIDST MARCH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS ... THE EARTH SHOOK, THE HEAVENS ALSO DROPPED AT THE PRESENCE OF GOD: EVEN SINAI ITSELF WAS MOVED - literally, 'this Sinai' (pointing to it), derived from Deborah's song, Judges 5:4; which again rests on Deuteronomy 33:2; Exodus 19:16. God, as it were, 'marched' at the head of the people 'to search out a resting-place for them' ...

7-14 Fresh mercies should put us in mind of former mercies. If God bring his people into a wilderness, he will be sure to go before them in it, and to bring them out of it. He provided for them, both in the wilderness and in Canaan. The daily manna seems here meant. And it looks to the spiritual provision for God's Israel. The Spirit of grace and the gospel of grace are the plentiful rain, with which God confirms his inheritance, and from which their fruit is found. Christ shall come as showers that water the earth. The account of Israel's victories is to be applied to the victories over death and hell, by the exalted Redeemer, for those that are his. Israel in Egypt among the kilns appeared wretched, but possessed of Canaan, during the reigns of David and Solomon, appeared glorious. Thus the slaves of Satan, when converted to Christ, when justified and sanctified by him, look honourabl...

THE EARTH SHOOK - See Exodus 19:16. THE HEAVENS ALSO DROPPED AT THE PRESENCE OF GOD - That is, dropped down rain and food. The idea is that the very heavens seemed to be shaken or convulsed, so that rain and food were shaken down - as ripe fruit falls from a tree that is shaken. Compare the notes at Isaiah 34:4. So also, Isaiah 64:1. The meaning is not that the heavens themselves dropped down, but that they dropped or distilled rain and food. EVEN SINAI ITSELF WAS MOVED - This was true; but this does not seem to be the idea intended here, for the words “even” and “was moved” are not in the original. The Hebre

EXPOSITION THIS psalm is one of triumphant praise and jubilation, the crown and gem of the Second Book. Professor Cheyne calls it "a patriotic and religious ode of wondrous range and compass, and in the grandest style." He also notes that it was a favourite with the Huguenots, who called it "The Song of Battles," and that it was chanted by Savanarola and his brother monks as they marched to the trial of fire in the Piazza of Florence. While some critics assign it to the post-Captivity period (Ewald, Cheyne), the greater number, and the most acute (Botticher, Hitzig, Hengstenberg, Kay, Dean Johnson, etc.)see in it one of the earliest, as well as the most beautiful, specimens of Hebrew poetry. The ascription to David, which we find in the "title," is by these critics accepted as fully borne out by the contents. The antique language, the impressive descriptions, the fresh powerful tone of t...

THE EARTH SHOOK,.... Not only about Sinai, but in other places; see Psalms 114:1. It may also design the dread and trembling of the inhabitants of the earth, when they heard of the wonderful things God did for his people, Exodus 15:14; THE HEAVENS ALSO DROPPED AT THE PRESENCE OF GOD; the Targum supplies, dew; to which may be added, quails and manna: though it rather seems to design a large shower of rain, which followed the lightning and thunder, when the law was given; [EVEN] SINAI ITSELF [WAS MOVED] AT THE PRESENCE OF GOD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL: it is said to quake greatly, Exodus 19:18. The words of this verse and...

This was a Psalm sung, at the removing of the ark, when it was taken up to its resting-place on Mount Zion. All the tribes were gathered together, and, in full pomp, they marched along, bearing the sacred chest. As they tramped forward, the trumpets sounded, and this Psalm rose up to God. Psalms 68:1. _Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him._ That is the way to move, God first, and his people following closely after him. That is the true order of revival, the Lord in the lead, then all his children, quick of step, to follow where he leads. The psalmist seems to take it for granted that there would be no fighting if God should arise, for all his enemies would be put to flight by his presence. Psalms 68:2. As smoke is driven

Psalms 68 The Great Redemption Accomplished _ 1. The introduction (Psalms 68:1)_ 2. The proclamation of His Name and of ‘His acts (Psalms 68:4) 3. A historic review (Psalms 68:7) 4. Israel's place of blessing and the Redeemer (Psalms 68:13) 5. His victory over the enemies (Psalms 68:20) 6. The great procession (Psalms 68:24) 7.

LXVIII. A SONG OF TRIUMPH. The most difficult of all the Pss. In some places the text is so corrupt that it defies any attempt at emendation, and the VSS give little, if any, help. The historical allusions are obscure. The poet makes use of older works, especially of Deborah's Song in Judges 5. PSALMS 68:1. Praise of God for His power and lovingkindness. This section begins with a quotation from Numbers 10:35, the words used when the Ark moved forward in the forty years-' wandering through the wilderness. PSALMS 68:4. RIDETH THROUGH THE DESERTS OR RATHER STEPPES (_cf._ Isaiah 40:3)....

DROPPED: i.e. dropped [moisture]....

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 quaked at the presence of God, Even yon Sinai at the presence of Jehovah, the God of Israel." When God brought Israel out of Egypt, He "went before them … to lead them in the way" (Exodus 13:21 f.; cp. Micah 2:13), and in the great Theophany of Sinai the mystery and marvel of His self-revelation were concentrated. Earthquake and storm are the symbols of His Presence and Power. See...