Psalm 68 – God Is Our Salvation…Selah
By Susan Wright
*This blog is part of our weekly, virtual Bible Study through the book of Psalms. For information on how to participate, please visit this page.
The Psalms are the story of the Nation of Israel, written in Hebrew poetic form. This lends itself to singing and memorization, so that the people could know their history and teach it to their children. Even today, the Psalms are excellent for memorization and meditation, teaching us about the power and sovereignty of God, of His love and mercy for His people, and His faithfulness to forgive us. He is our ever-present help for His people.
Psalm 68 is one of the oldest Psalms in the psalter and was sung when the Ark was moved to Jerusalem. This is one of the 73 Psalms written by King David to the Israelites, in 1045 BC.
To the choirmaster - A Psalm of David - A Song
1 God shall arise, His enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God they shall be jubilant with joy!
4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; His name is the Lord; exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in His holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home; He leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
The Psalmist opens with declaration (praise) of God’s might against the enemies of Israel, as easily defeated as wisps of smoke or melting wax, illustrating the commanding power of the God of Israel.
These verses tell us about God, and what he does for His people. See that those who are not believers (hate = opposite of love here) “shall flee before Him!” implying their terror at the might of God.
Note that Verse 1 here is very similar to Numbers 10:35 – “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered; and let them who hate you flee before you.” But those who are faithful are glad, jubilant, singing praises to His name. Love of the Lord brings His protection (safety, security), and the people rejoice in their love of the Lord. Widows and orphans, poor and slave, all are protected by God, but the enemies of Israel will feel the wrath of God, who protects His people.
7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
11 The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host:
12 “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!” The women at home divide the spoil—
13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds—the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with shimmering gold.
14 When the Almighty scatters kings there, let snow fall on Zalmon.
15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for His abode, yes, where the Lord will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.
God leads His people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. This is harsh terrain (wilderness) and a long journey, yet God provides rain, shelter, food, and protection. In battles, God provides victory for His people over their enemies. Verses 11-14 refers to the Song of Deborah (Judges 5), where a coalition of Israelite forces defeated the powerful Canaanite army, God led them and gave them the victory. The journey ends in Jerusalem on a hill/mountain (Zion). The Psalmist points out that though other mountains are higher (Bashan), God chose to live in Zion.
Note the “Selah” after 68:7, (Hebrew) directing those singing to pause, pray and/or contemplate the verse. It occurs three times in Psalm 68 – verses 7, 19, and 32.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21 But God will strike the heads of His enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may strike your feet in their blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”
24 Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation, the Lord, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out Her hands to God.
Verses 19-31 tell us about God/nature of God, and what He does for His people. God is our help, that every day He helps us carry our burdens. (19, 20) His strength/help for us is new each day, He is our salvation. Note the 2nd “Selah” is here. This is a powerful verse - the Psalmist noted its importance, for our daily strength from God - and we also should note the importance. Praying to Him for our strength in everything we do, is powerful, connecting us to the Living God.
Another attribute of God is omniscience - no one can run away from or hide from God: the guilty (enemies, wrongdoers) will be found by God and brought to account for their ways (21-23), and even dogs will have spoils from the enemies!
In verse 24, we hear more about the Procession, now near Jerusalem, not the procession from Egypt from the earlier verses. God is with King David (24: …the procession of my God and my King….).
Note the references to the women and tambourines (verse 25): two other instances of celebrating God’s wins/defeats over the enemies of Israel: After God took the Jews from Egypt (Miriam, Exodus 15:20) After God beat the enemies of the Jews (Jephthah’s daughter in Judges 11:34).
Verse 27 we hear about four of the 12 tribes of Israel (Benjamin, Judah, Zebulun, Naphtali). Note Benjamin is first (“the least of them”) because Jerusalem was in the part of the Promised Land where he lived. Judah is next because it is David’s tribe (David is King). *The other ten tribes follow, but only two more, Zebulun and Naphtali, were listed.
Kings will bear gifts to Israel (Verse 29; more detail in Isaiah 60:11-12) because of God’s victories on behalf of Israel. The weak kings of nations will bow before Israel and bring precious gifts to pay homage. Cush is today’s Sudan.
32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out His voice, His mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God from His sanctuary; the God of Israel—He is the one who gives power and strength to His people.
Blessed be God!
The Psalmist concludes in these final three verses, first the call to praise God, with Selah for pause, praise, meditation, and prayer. God’s temple on Earth is in Jerusalem, a tent. But the real Temple of God is in Heaven, where God lives.
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