Salmos 68

1 LEVANTESE Dios, sean esparcidos sus enemigos, Y huyan de su presencia los que le aborrecen.

2 Como es lanzado el humo, los lanzarás: Como se derrite la cera delante del fuego, Así perecerán los impíos delante de Dios.

3 Mas los justos se alegrarán: gozarse han delante de Dios, Y saltarán de alegría.

4 Cantad á Dios, cantad salmos á su nombre: Ensalzad al que sube sobre los cielos En JAH su nombre, y alegraos delante de él.

5 Padre de huérfanos y defensor de viudas, Es Dios en la morada de su santuario:

6 El Dios que hace habitar en familia los solos; Que saca á los aprisionados con grillos: Mas los rebeldes habitan en sequedad.

7 Oh Dios, cuando tú saliste delante de tu pueblo, Cuando anduviste por el desierto, (Selah,)

8 La tierra tembló; También destilaron los cielos á la presencia de Dios: Aquel Sinaí tembló delante de Dios, del Dios de Israel.

9 Abundante lluvia esparciste, oh Dios, á tu heredad; Y cuando se cansó, tú la recreaste.

10 Los que son de tu grey han morado en ella: Por tu bondad, oh Dios, has provisto al pobre.

11 El Señor daba palabra: De las evangelizantes había grande ejército.

12 Huyeron, huyeron reyes de ejércitos; Y las que se quedaban en casa partían los despojos.

13 Bien que fuiesteis echados entre los tiestos, Seréis como las alas de la paloma cubierta de plata, Y sus plumas con amarillez de oro.

14 Cuando esparció el Omnipotente los reyes en ella, Emblanquecióse ésta como la nieve en Salmón.

15 Monte de Dios es el monte de Basán; Monte alto el de Basán.

16 ¿Por qué os levantáis, oh montes altos? Este monte amó Dios para su asiento; Ciertamente Jehová habitará en él para siempre.

17 Los carros de Dios son veinte mil, y más millares de ángeles. El Señor entre ellos, como en Sinaí, así en el santuario.

18 Subiste á lo alto, cautivaste la cautividad, Tomaste dones para los hombres, Y también para los rebeldes, para que habite entre ellos JAH Dios.

19 Bendito el Señor; cada día nos colma de beneficios El Dios de nuestra salud. (Selah.)

20 Dios, nuestro Dios ha de salvarnos; Y de Dios Jehová es el librar de la muerte.

21 Ciertamente Dios herirá la cabeza de sus enemigos, La cabelluda mollera del que camina en sus pecados.

22 El Señor dijo: De Basán haré volver, Te haré volver de los profundos de la mar:

23 Porque tu pie se enrojecerá de sangre de tus enemigos, Y de ella la lengua de tus perros.

24 Vieron tus caminos, oh Dios; Los caminos de mi Dios, de mi Rey, en el santuario.

25 Los cantores iban delante, los tañedores detrás; En medio, las doncellas, con adufes.

26 Bendecid á Dios en congregaciones: Al Señor, vosotros de la estirpe de Israel.

27 Allí estaba el joven Benjamín señoreador de ellos, Los príncipes de Judá en su congregación, Los príncipes de Zabulón, los príncipes de Nephtalí.

28 Tu Dios ha ordenado tu fuerza; Confirma, oh Dios, lo que has obrado en nosotros.

29 Por razón de tu templo en Jerusalem Los reyes te ofrecerán dones.

30 Reprime la reunión de gentes armadas, La multitud de toros con los becerros de los pueblos, Hasta que todos se sometan con sus piezas de plata: Disipa los pueblos que se complacen en la guerra.

31 Vendrán príncipes de Egipto; Etiopía apresurará sus manos á Dios.

32 Reinos de la tierra, cantad á Dios, Cantad al Señor (Selah);

33 Al que cabalga sobre los cielos de los cielos que son de antiguo: He aquí á su voz dará voz de fortaleza.

34 Atribuid fortaleza á Dios: Sobre Israel es su magnificencia, Y su poder está en los cielos.

35 Terrible eres, oh Dios, desde tus santuarios: El Dios de Israel, él da fortaleza y vigor á su pueblo. Bendito 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.