Salmos 68

1 Salmo 68
Para el director del coro: cántico. Salmo de David.
Levántate, oh Dios, y dispersa a tus enemigos;
que todos los que odian a Dios corran por sus vidas.

2 Sóplalos y disípalos como si fueran humo;
derrítelos como la cera en el fuego;
que los malvados perezcan en la presencia de Dios.

3 Pero que los justos se alegren;
que se gocen en la presencia de Dios;
que estén llenos de alegría.

4 ¡Canten alabanzas a Dios y a su nombre!
Canten alabanzas en alta voz al que cabalga sobre las nubes.
Su nombre es el Señor
;
¡alégrense en su presencia!

5 Padre de los huérfanos, defensor de las viudas,
este es Dios y su morada es santa.

6 Dios ubica a los solitarios en familias;
pone en libertad a los prisioneros y los llena de alegría.
Pero a los rebeldes los hace vivir en una tierra abrasada por el sol.

7 Oh Dios, cuando sacaste a tu pueblo de Egipto,
cuando marchaste a través de las áridas tierras baldías,
Interludio

8 la tierra tembló y los cielos derramaron lluvia a raudales
delante de ti, el Dios del Sinaí,
delante de Dios, el Dios de Israel.

9 Enviaste lluvia en abundancia, oh Dios,
para refrescar la tierra agotada.

10 Finalmente allí se estableció tu pueblo
y, con una abundante cosecha, oh Dios,
proveíste para tu pueblo necesitado.

11 El Señor da la palabra,
y un gran ejército
trae las buenas noticias.

12 Los reyes enemigos y sus ejércitos huyen,
mientras las mujeres de Israel reparten el botín.

13 Hasta los que vivían entre los rediles encontraron tesoros,
palomas con alas de plata
y plumas de oro.

14 El Todopoderoso esparció a los reyes enemigos
como una tormenta de nieve que sopla en el monte Salmón.

15 Las montañas de Basán son majestuosas,
con muchas cumbres altas que llegan al cielo.

16 Oh montañas empinadas, ¿por qué miran con envidia
al monte Sión, donde Dios decidió vivir,
donde el Señor
vivirá para siempre?

17 Rodeado de incontables millares de carros de guerra,
el Señor llegó del monte Sinaí y entró en su santuario.

18 Cuando ascendiste a las alturas,
llevaste a una multitud de cautivos;
recibiste regalos de la gente,
incluso de quienes se rebelaron contra ti.
Ahora el Señor
Dios vivirá allí, en medio de nosotros.

19 ¡Alaben al Señor, alaben a Dios nuestro salvador!
Pues cada día nos lleva en sus brazos.
Interludio

20 ¡Nuestro Dios es un Dios que salva!
El Señor
Soberano nos rescata de la muerte.

21 Pero Dios aplastará las cabezas de sus enemigos,
aplastará los cráneos de los que aman sus caminos perversos.

22 El Señor dice: «Haré descender a mis enemigos desde Basán;
los levantaré desde las profundidades del mar.

23 Ustedes, pueblo mío, se lavarán los pies en la sangre de ellos,
¡y hasta los perros tendrán su porción!».

24 Ya asoma tu procesión, oh Dios,
la procesión de mi Dios y Rey mientras él entra en el santuario.

25 Los cantores van adelante, los músicos van detrás;
en medio hay jovencitas que tocan panderetas.

26 Alaben a Dios todos los del pueblo de Israel;
alaben al Señor
, la fuente de vida de Israel.

27 Miren, la pequeña tribu de Benjamín va al frente;
le sigue una gran multitud de gobernantes de Judá
y todos los gobernantes de Zabulón y Neftalí.

28 Oh Dios, haz que tu poder se presente;
despliega tu poder, oh Dios, como lo has hecho en el pasado.

29 Los reyes de la tierra traen tributo
a tu templo en Jerusalén.

30 Reprende a estas naciones enemigas,
a estos animales salvajes que acechan entre los juncos,
a esta manada de toros en medio de los becerros más débiles.
Hazlos traer barras de plata como humilde tributo.
Dispersa a las naciones que se deleitan en la guerra.

31 Que Egipto venga con regalos de metales preciosos;
que Etiopía
se incline en sumisión a Dios.

32 Canten a Dios, reinos de la tierra,
canten alabanzas al Señor.
Interludio

33 Canten al que cabalga por los cielos antiguos;
su poderosa voz truena desde los cielos.

34 Cuéntenles a todos acerca del poder de Dios.
Su majestad brilla sobre Israel;
su fuerza es poderosa en los cielos.

35 Dios es imponente en su santuario;
el Dios de Israel le da poder y fuerza a su pueblo.
¡Alabado sea Dios!

Salmos 68 Commentary

Chapter 68

A prayer-- The greatness and goodness of God. (1-6) The wonderful works God wrought for his people. (7-14) The presence of God in his church. (15-21) The victories of Christ. (22-28) Enlargement of the church. (29-31) The glory and grace of God. (32-35)

Verses 1-6 None ever hardened his heart against God, and prospered. God is the joy of his people, then let them rejoice when they come before him. He who derives his being from none, but gives being to all, is engaged by promise and covenant to bless his people. He is to be praised as a God of mercy and tender compassion. He ever careth for the afflicted and oppressed: repenting sinners, who are helpless and exposed more than any fatherless children, are admitted into his family, and share all their blessings.

Verses 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 honourable. When they reach heaven, all remains of their sinful state disappear, they shall be as the wings of the dove, covered with silver, and her feathers as gold. Full salvation will render those white as snow, who were vile and loathsome through the guilt and defilement of sin.

Verses 15-21 The ascension of Christ must here be meant, and thereto it is applied, ( Ephesians 4:8 ) . He received as the purchase of his death, the gifts needful for the conversion of sinners, and the salvation of believers. These he continually bestows, even on rebellious men, that the Lord God might dwell among them, as their Friend and Father. He gave gifts to men. Having received power to give eternal life, the Lord Jesus bestows it on as many as were given him, ( John 17:2 ) . Christ came to a rebellious world, not to condemn it, but that through him it might be saved. The glory of Zion's King is, that he is a Saviour and Benefactor to all his willing people, and a consuming fire to all that persist in rebellion against him. So many, so weighty are the gifts of God's bounty, that he may be truly said to load us with them. He will not put us off with present things for a portion, but will be the God of our salvation. The Lord Jesus has authority and power to rescue his people from the dominion of death, by taking away the sting of it from them when they die, and giving them complete victory over it when they rise again. The crown of the head, the chief pride and glory of the enemy, shall be smitten; Christ shall crush the head of the serpent.

Verses 22-28 The victories with which God blessed David over the enemies of Israel, are types of Christ's victory, for himself and for all believers. Those who take him for theirs, may see him acting as their God, as their King, for their good, and in answer to their prayers; especially in and by his word and ordinances. The kingdom of the Messiah shall be submitted to by all the rulers and learned in the world. The people seem to address the king, ver. Verse 28 . But the words are applicable to the Redeemer, to his church, and every true believer. We pray, that thou, O God the Son, wilt complete thine undertaking for us, by finishing thy good work in us.

Verses 29-31 A powerful invitation is given to those that are without, to join the church. Some shall submit from fear; overcome by their consciences, and the checks of Providence, they are brought to make peace with the church. Others will submit ( psalms 68:29-31 ) service of God, and in the gospel of Christ which went forth from Jerusalem, which is enough to invite sinners out of all nations.

Verses 32-35 God is to be admired and adored with reverence and godly fear, by all that attend in his holy places. The God of Israel gives strength and power unto his people. Through Christ strengthening us we can do all things, not otherwise; therefore he must have the glory of all we do, with our humble thanks for enabling us to do it, and for accepting the work of his hands in us.

Chapter Summary

To the chief Musician, A Psalm [or] Song of David. The Targum makes the argument of this psalm to be the coming of the children of Israel out of Egypt, and the giving of the law on Mount Sinai; in which it is followed by many of the Jewish interpreters: but Aben Ezra rejects such an interpretation of it, and thinks that David composed it, concerning the war he had with the uncircumcised nations, the Philistines and others, 2 Samuel 8:1, &c. And so the title of the Syriac version begins, "a psalm of David, when the kings prepared themselves to fight against him:" and Kimchi says it was composed on account of Sennacherib's army coming against Jerusalem, in the times of Hezekiah, and so delivered by David, under a spirit of prophecy concerning that affair; though he owns that some of their writers interpret it of the war of Gog and Magog, in the times of the Messiah they yet expect. But they are much nearer the truth, who take it that it was written on occasion of the ark being brought to the city of David; seeing it begins with much the same words that Moses used when the ark set forward in his times, Numbers 10:35; and the bringing of which was attended with great joy and gladness, 2 Samuel 6:14; such as the righteous are called upon to express in this psalm, Psalm 68:3. And this being a type of Christ, and of his ascending the holy hill of God, may be allowed of; for certain it is that this psalm treats of the coming of Christ, and of blessings by him, and of victory over his enemies; and particularly of his ascension to heaven, as most evidently appears from Ephesians 4:8; and from prophecies in it, concerning the calling of the Gentiles. Wherefore the latter part of the Syriac inscription of it is very pertinent; "also a prophecy concerning the dispensation of the Messiah, and concerning the calling of the Gentiles to the faith." Jarchi interprets Psalm 68:31 of the Messiah.