1
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song.
(68-2) God arises, and His enemies are scattered;
those who hate Him flee before Him.
2
(68-3) As smoke is driven away,
as wax melts before the fire,
so the wicked perish before God.
3
(68-4) But the righteous rejoice;
they exult before God, and are glad and rejoice.
4
(68-5) Sing to God, sing praises to His name;
make a way for Him who rides through the clouds!
His name is the LORD; exult before Him!
5
(68-6) A father to the fatherless and a protector of widows,
this is God in His holy dwelling;
6
(68-7) God gives a home to the lonely;
He brings out prisoners into prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7
(68-8) O God, when You went out before Your people in battle,
when You marched through the wilderness. Selah
8
(68-9) The earth shook, even the heavens poured down rain before God;
Sinai trembled before God, the God of Israel.
9
(68-10) You sent abundant rain, O God;
You restored Your weary inheritance,
10
(68-11) so that Your flock might dwell there;
in Your goodness You provided for the needy, O God.
11
(68-12) The Lord gives the word;
the women who bring the good news are a great host:
12
(68-13) The kings of armies flee, they flee,
and the women at home divide the spoil.
13
(68-14) Will you lie down among the sheepfolds?
The wings of the dove are covered with silver,
its feathers with shimmering gold.
14
(68-15) When the Almighty scattered kings there,
it snowed on Mount Zalmon.
15
(68-16) O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan,
O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16
(68-17) O many-peaked mountains, why do you look with envy,
at the mountain which God desired for His dwelling?
Surely the LORD will dwell there forever!
17
(68-18) The chariots of God are tens of thousands, even thousands upon thousands;
the Lord has come from Sinai into the sanctuary!
18
(68-19) You have ascended on high; You have led away captives;
You have received gifts among men,
even from the rebellious, that the LORD God might dwell there.
19
(68-20) Blessed be the Lord! Day by day He bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah
20
(68-21) Our God is a God who saves;
GOD, my Lord, delivers from death.
21
(68-22) Truly, God shatters the heads of His enemies,
the hairy crown of the one who goes on in his guilt.
22
(68-23) The Lord has said: “From Bashan I will bring them back,
I will bring them back from the depths,
23
(68-24) so that you may wash your feet in blood,
and the tongues of your dogs may have their share from the enemy.”
24
(68-25) People have seen Your procession, O God,
the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25
(68-26) In front go the singers, behind them the players of harps,
in the midst are maidens beating tambourines.
26
(68-27) “In the assembly bless God,
that is, the LORD, you who come from the fountain of Israel!”
27
(68-28) There is Benjamin, the youngest, leading them,
the princes of Judah in a great throng,
the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28
(68-29) Summon Your power, O God,
show Your strength, O God,
You who have acted for us.
29
(68-30) Because of Your temple in Jerusalem,
kings bring offerings to You.
30
(68-31) Rebuke the beasts in the reeds,
the herd of strong ones, the rulers of the nations!
Trample those who lust after silver;
scatter the nations that delight in war!
31
(68-32) From Egypt they bring articles of bronze;
Cush hastens to stretch out her hands to God.
32
(68-33) O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,
sing praises to the Lord. Selah
33
(68-34) To Him who rides across the ancient heavens.
Listen, He makes His voice heard, His mighty voice!
34
(68-35) Ascribe power to God;
His majesty is over Israel,
and His power is in the clouds.
35
(68-36) God is awesome from His sanctuary;
the God of Israel, He gives power and strength to His people.
Blessed be God!
🕊️🙏📖 Summary of Psalm 68 – “God Arises, the Enemy Is Scattered”
Psalm 68 is a song of victory and majestic praise to God who defends His people and defeats His enemies. It is a psalm that portrays God as the King who ascends in glory, leading His people from the wilderness to His holy mountain — Zion.
The psalmist weaves together history, praise, judgment, and hope. God appears as the protector of orphans, the deliverer of captives, the giver of blessing rain, and the King over all the earth.
📌 1. God Arises and the Enemy Flees (verses 1–6)
➡️ “God arises, and His enemies are scattered…”
➡️ Like smoke vanishing and wax melting, the Lord’s enemies perish.
➡️ But the righteous rejoice and shout before the Lord.
➡️ The Lord is described as a Father to the fatherless and Protector of widows.
🎯 God is the protector of the weak and the upholder of divine justice.
📌 2. God’s Work in the Wilderness and on Mount Zion (verses 7–18)
➡️ The Lord led the people from Egypt, appearing in glory at Sinai.
➡️ The mountains were jealous of Zion, the mountain chosen by the Lord.
➡️ The Lord ascended with myriads of chariots — bringing up captives and receiving offerings.
🎯 A prophetic picture of Christ’s ascension and his victory over the power of death.
📌 3. The Lord’s Blessing and Care (verses 19–23)
➡️ “Blessed be the Lord! Day by day he bears us up.”
➡️ The Lord is the God of salvation, even the God who repays his enemies.
🎯 In the weariness of daily life, the Lord still sustains his people.
📌 4. God’s Victory and Global Worship (verses 24–35)
➡️ God’s victory procession is described with great majesty.
➡️ Kings will bring tribute, and all the earth will acknowledge the Lord’s power.
➡️ “How awesome is your God, O Israel!”
🎯 A vision of a world subdued and worshiping the divine King.
📖 Main Teaching
- The Lord rises to defend his people and defeat the enemy
- God cares for the oppressed and the helpless
- The history of the Lord’s presence becomes the basis for faith today
- The Lord lifts his people in spiritual victory
- All powers and kingdoms will bow before God
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 Ephesians 4:8
“When he ascended on high, he led captives…”
➡️ Quoted directly from Psalm 68:18 — referring to Christ’s victory over death.
📖 James 1:27
“Pure religion… is to visit orphans and widows…”
➡️ In keeping with the picture of God in Psalm 68:5 as their protector.
📖 Romans 8:37
“In all these things we are more than conquerors…”
➡️ A picture of God’s people’s victory together with God.
📖 Hebrews 12:22
“You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God…”
➡️ Mount Zion as a symbol of the Lord’s eternal kingdom.
🕊️ “God arises, and His enemies are scattered…” – Psalm 68:1
🕊️ “A father to the fatherless and a protector of widows is God…” – Psalm 68:5
🕊️ “Blessed be the Lord! Day by day He bears us up.” – Psalm 68:19
🕊️ “You ascended on high, leading captives.” – Psalm 68:18
