Psalms 68
68
A Song of Triumph
For the Pure and Shining One
David’s poetic song of praise
1God! Arise with awesome power,
and every one of your enemies will scatter in fear!
2Chase them away—all these God-haters.
Blow them away as a puff of smoke.
Melt them away like wax in the fire.
One good look at you and the wicked vanish.
3But let all the righteous be glad!
Yes, let them all rejoice in your presence
and be carried away with gladness. # 68:3 As translated from the Septuagint. The Aramaic is “they rejoice in his sweetness.”
Let them laugh and be radiant with joy!
4Let them sing their celebration-songs
for the coming of the cloud rider whose name is Yah! # 68:4 More than an abbreviation, the name Yah is associated with the God of heaven, the God of highest glory and power.
5-6To the fatherless he is a father.
To the widow he is a champion friend.
The lonely he makes part of a family.
The prisoners # 68:5–6 The Septuagint reads “the bitter ones.” he leads into prosperity until they sing for joy.
This is our Holy God in his Holy Place!
But for the rebels there is heartache and despair. # 68:5–6 Or “they will live in a sun-scorched land.”
7O Lord, it was you who marched in front of your people,
leading them through the wasteland.
Pause in his presence
8The earth shook beneath your feet; the heavens filled with clouds
before the presence of the God of Sinai.
The sacred mountain shook at the sight of the face of Israel’s God.
9You, O God, sent the reviving rain upon your weary inheritance,
showers of blessing to refresh it.
10So there your people settled. # 68:10 Or “For you live among them [in community].” The Hebrew is uncertain.
And in your kindness you provided # 68:10 Or “sustain.” God anticipates our needs and has gone before us to provide for and sustain us in our journey. the poor with abundance.
11God Almighty declares the word of the gospel with power, # 68:11 As translated from the Aramaic.
and the warring women of Zion deliver its message: # 68:11 As translated from the Masoretic Text.
12“The conquering legions have themselves been conquered.
Look at them flee!”
Now Zion’s women are left to gather the spoils.
13When you sleep between sharpened stakes, # 68:13 The Aramaic word shaphya can be translated “sharpened stakes” or “thorns.” This is an obvious prophecy of the cross and our union with Christ as he was crucified.
I see you sparkling like silver and glistening like gold,
covered by the beautiful wings of a dove! # 68:13 As translated from the Aramaic text, this verse contains prophetic hints of Calvary, where Jesus “slept” the sleep of death between the “sharpened stakes” of the cross. The word you is plural and points us to our co-crucifixion with Christ.
14When the Almighty found a king for himself,
it became white as snow in his shade. # 68:14 Every scholar consulted concludes that this verse is difficult, if not impossible, to interpret properly and translate accurately. The last words are literally “Snow fell in Zalmon.” Zalmon (or Salmon) was a wooded area and means “shady.”
15-16O huge, magnificent mountain,
you are the mighty kingdom of God! # 68:15–16 The Septuagint reads “mountain of provision.”
All the other peaks, though impressive and imposing,
look with envy on you, Mount Zion!
For Zion is the mountain where God has chosen to live forever.
17Look! The mighty chariots of God!
Ten thousands upon ten thousands,
more than anyone could ever number.
God is at the front,
leading them all from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary
with the radiance of holiness upon him. # 68:17 The Septuagint reads “The Lord sends his provisions from his Holy Place on Mount Sinai.”
18He ascends into the heavenly heights,
taking his many captured ones with him,
leading them in triumphal procession.
And gifts were given to men, even the once rebellious,
so that they may dwell with Yah.
19What a glorious God! # 68:19 The Aramaic is Maryah, the Aramaic form of YHWH or Lord Yahweh.
He gives us salvation over and over, # 68:19 Salvation is in the plural form in the Hebrew text (“salvations”).
then daily he carries our burdens! # 68:19 Or “daily loads us with benefits.”
Pause in his presence
20Our God is a mighty God who saves us over and over!
For the Lord, Yahweh, rescues us
from the ways of death many times.
21But he will crush every enemy, shattering their strength.
He will make heads roll
for they refuse to repent of their stubborn, sinful ways.
22I hear the Lord God saying to all the enemies of his people,
“You’d better come out of your hiding places,
all of you who are doing your best to stay far away from me. # 68:22 The Hebrew text makes reference to Bashan (a high mountain) and to the depths of the sea. In other words, there’s no place to hide.
Don’t you know there’s no place to hide?
23For my people will be the conquerors;
they will soon have you under their feet.
They will crush you until there is nothing left!” # 68:23 The Hebrew text is literally “Your enemies will be food for the dogs.”
24O God, my King, your triumphal processions
keep moving onward in holiness;
you’re moving onward toward the Holy Place!
25Leaders in front, # 68:25 As translated from the Septuagint. The Hebrew is “Singers in front.” then musicians,
with young maidens in between, striking their tambourines.
26And they sing, “Let all God’s princely people rejoice!
Let all the congregations bring their blessing to God, saying,
‘The Lord of the fountain! The Lord of the fountain of life!
The Lord of the fountain of Israel!’ ”
27Astonishingly, it’s the favored youth leading the way: # 68:27 The Hebrew includes the names of four sons of Jacob, representing four tribes. Benjamin, the youngest son, means “son of my right hand” or “the favored one.” Judah means “praise.” Zebulon’s name is the word for “exalted.” Naphtali means “obtained by wrestling.” Each name speaks of a princely group and is used here poetically not only for Israel but for all of God’s “princely people” in this holy procession of worship.
princes of praise in their royal robes
and exalted princes are among them,
along with princes who have wrestled with God.
28-29Display your strength, God, and we’ll be strong! # 68:28–29 The Great Bible translated by Miles Coverdale (1488–1569) translates this as “Your God has sent forth strength for you.”
For your miracles have made us who we are.
Lord, do it again
and parade from your temple your mighty power.
By your command even kings will bring gifts to you.
30God, rebuke the beast-life that hides within us! # 68:30 Literal Hebrew is “rebuke the beasts in the reeds.”
Rebuke those who claim to be “strong ones,” # 68:30 This verse has puzzled scholars, and many conclude that the Hebrew text is nearly incomprehensible, with tremendous variations in the translation.
who lurk within the congregation
and abuse the people out of their love for money.
God scatters the people who are spoiling for a fight.
31Africa will send her noble envoys to you, O God.
They will come running, stretching out their hands in love to you.
32Let all the nations of the earth sing songs of praise to Almighty God!
Go ahead, all you nations—sing your praise to the Lord!
Pause in his presence
33Make music for the one who strides the ancient skies.
Listen to his thunderous voice of might split open the heavens.
34Give it up for God, for he alone has all the strength and power!
Proclaim his majesty! For his glory shines down on Israel.
His mighty strength soars in the clouds of glory.
35God, we are consumed with awe, trembling before you
as your glory streams from your Holy Place.
The God of power shares his mighty strength with Israel
and with all his people.
God, we give our highest praise to you!
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Psalms 68: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 68
68
For the music director. A psalm of David. A song.
1Stand up, God, and scatter your enemies. Let those who hate him run away from him!
2Blow them away as if they were smoke; melt them like beeswax in a fire. Let the wicked die in God's presence.
3But those who are right with God are happy, and they celebrate in God's presence, full of joy.
4Sing praises to God! Sing praises to his wonderful reputation!#68:4. Literally, “name.” Praise the rider of the clouds—his name is the Lord!#68:4. Literally, “Yah,” a short form of Yahweh. Be happy in his presence!
5He is a father to the orphans, a protector of widows. This is who God is, who lives in his holy place.#68:5. “His holy place”—this may be a reference to heaven or the Temple.
6God gives those who are abandoned#68:6. Or “lonely.” a family to live with. He sets prisoners free with celebration.#68:6. Or “singing.” This word only occurs once in the Old Testament. It has also been translated as “prosperity.” But those who rebel live in a desert wasteland.
7God, when you led your people out,#68:7. Referring to the Exodus. when you marched through the desert, Selah,
8the earth quaked, and the heavens shook#68:8. Or “poured down rain.” before God, the one of Sinai; before God, the God of Israel.
9You sent plenty of rain to water the promised land; refreshing it when it was dry.#68:9. This line could also be directly applied to the people of Israel, since the “inheritance” was both the land and the people.
10Your people settled there, and because of your kindness, God, you looked after the poor. Selah.
11The Lord gives the command, and a great army of women spread the good news.
12The kings of the foreign armies are quick to run away, and the women#68:12. The women of Israel. who stayed at home divide the plunder!
13Why are you staying at home?#68:13. The meaning here is uncertain. Literally, “you lie down by the hearthstones (or sheepfolds).” There are ornaments in the shape of a dove with wings of silver and feathers of fine gold to be taken.#68:13. “To be taken.” Implied. Though the text is not clear it seems that this is related to the plunder mentioned in verse 12.
14The Almighty scattered the foreign kings like a snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
15“Mountain of God,” Mount Bashan, with your many high peaks, Mount Bashan,
16why do you look enviously, mountain with many peaks, at the mountain God chose as his home, where the Lord will live forever?#68:16. While this verse is complex, it seems to be suggesting that there were those who questioned the superiority of Mount Zion, and that their own mountains (Mount Bashan) were equally acceptable as places for God to dwell and be worshiped. It's interesting to note that even much later this issue of “which mountain” was brought up by the Samaritan woman to Jesus, since the Samaritans identified Mount Gerizim as their holy mountain.
17God's chariots can't be counted; there are thousands and thousands of them. He comes among them from Sinai into his Temple.
18As you ascended to your high throne you led a procession of prisoners. You received gifts from the people, even from those who had rebelled against the home of the Lord God.
19May the Lord be blessed, for every day he carries our burdens.#68:19. Or “every day he carries us.” God is our salvation. Selah.
20For us, God is a God who saves. The Lord God provides our escape from death.
21But God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy heads#68:21. This may refer to the practice of warriors not cutting their hair during times of war. of those who continue to sin.
22The Lord says, “I will drag them down from Bashan; I will drag them up from the depths of the sea,
23so that you may walk in their blood. Even your dogs will have their share of your enemies.”
24People watch your processions, God—the processions of my God and King as they go into the Temple.
25The singers are at the front, the musicians at the back, and in the middle girls playing tambourines.
26Praise God, everyone who has come to worship; praise the Lord, everyone who belongs to Israel.
27There is the little tribe of Benjamin, followed by the many leaders from Judah; then come the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.
28Display your power, God! Reveal your strength, Lord, as you have done for us in the past.
29Because of your Temple in Jerusalem, kings bring tribute to you.
30Condemn the beasts of the reeds, the bulls and calves!#68:30. The meaning of this line is not clear. It may refer to Egypt, and also to other foreign nations. May they be humbled and bring bars of silver in tribute! Scatter the war-loving nations!
31Let Egypt come with bronze gifts;#68:31. The word only occurs here in the OT. Alternatively it may mean ambassadors, natron, or expensive cloth. let Ethiopia come quickly and hand over their tributes to God!
32Sing to God, kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord. Selah.
33Sing to the rider of the ancient heavens,#68:33. In other words, the Creator. his strong voice sounding like thunder!
34Let everyone know of God's power: how his majesty extends over Israel, how his strength is revealed in the heavens.#68:34. Literally, “clouds” as a symbol of heaven above.
35How awesome is God in his Temple! The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people! Praise God!
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com