Psalmen 68

1 Een psalm, een lied van David, voor den opperzangmeester.

2 God zal opstaan, Zijn vijanden zullen verstrooid worden, en Zijn haters zullen van Zijn aangezicht vlieden.

3 Gij zult hen verdrijven, gelijk rook verdreven wordt; gelijk was voor het vuur smelt, zullen de goddelozen vergaan van Gods aangezicht.

4 Maar de rechtvaardigen zullen zich verblijden; zij zullen van vreugde opspringen voor Gods aangezicht, en van blijdschap vrolijk zijn.

5 Zingt Gode, psalmzingt Zijn Naam; hoogt de wegen voor Dien, Die in de vlakken velden rijdt, omdat Zijn Naam is HEERE; en springt op van vreugde voor Zijn aangezicht.

6 Hij is een Vader der wezen, en een Rechter der weduwen; God, in de woonstede Zijner heiligheid.

7 Een God, Die de eenzamen zet in een huisgezin, uitvoert, die in boeien gevangen zijn; maar de afvalligen wonen in het dorre.

8 O God! toen Gij voor het aangezicht Uws volks uittoogt, toen Gij daarhenen tradt in de woestijn; Sela.

9 Daverde de aarde, ook dropen de hemelen voor Gods aanschijn; zelfs deze Sinai, voor het aanschijn Gods, des Gods van Israel.

10 Gij hebt zeer milden regen doen druipen, o God! en Gij hebt Uw erfenis gesterkt, als zij mat was geworden.

11 Uw hoop woonde daarin; Gij bereiddet ze door Uw goedheid voor den ellendige, o God!

12 De HEERE gaf te spreken; der boodschappers van goede tijdingen was een grote heirschaar.

13 De koningen der heirscharen vloden weg, zij vloden weg; en zij, die te huis bleef, deelde den roof uit.

14 Al laagt gijlieden tussen twee rijen van stenen, zo zult gij toch worden als vleugelen ener duive, overdekt met zilver, en welker vederen zijn met uitgegraven geluwen goud.

15 Als de Almachtige de koningen daarin verstrooide, werd zij sneeuwwit als op Zalmon.

16 De berg Basan is een berg Gods; de berg Basan is een bultige berg.

17 Waarom springt gij op, gij bultige bergen? Deze berg heeft God begeerd tot Zijn woning; ook zal er de HEERE wonen in eeuwigheid.

18 Gods wagenen zijn tweemaal tien duizend, de duizenden verdubbeld. De Heere is onder hen, een Sinai in heiligheid!

19 Gij zijt opgevaren in de hoogte; Gij hebt de gevangenis gevankelijk gevoerd; Gij hebt gaven genomen om uit te delen onder de mensen; ja, ook de wederhorigen om bij U te wonen, o HEERE God!

20 Geloofd zij de HEERE; dag bij dag overlaadt Hij ons. Die God is onze Zaligheid. Sela.

21 Die God is ons een God van volkomene Zaligheid; en bij den HEERE, den Heere, zijn uitkomsten tegen den dood.

22 Voorzeker zal God den kop Zijner vijanden verslaan, den harigen schedel desgenen, die in zijn schulden wandelt.

23 De Heere heeft gezegd: Ik zal wederbrengen uit Basan; Ik zal wederbrengen uit de diepten der zee;

24 Opdat gij uw voet, ja, de tong uwer honden, moogt steken in het bloed van de vijanden, van een iegelijk van hen.

25 O God! zij hebben Uw gangen gezien, de gangen mijns Gods, mijns Konings, in het heiligdom.

26 De zangers gingen voor, de speellieden achter, in het midden de trommelende maagden.

27 Looft God in de gemeenten, den Heere, gij, die zijt uit den springader van Israel!

28 Daar is Benjamin de kleine, die over hen heerste, de vorsten van Juda, met hun vergadering, de vorsten van Zebulon, de vorsten van Nafthali.

29 Uw God heeft uw sterkte geboden; sterk, o God, wat Gij aan ons gewrocht hebt!

30 Om Uws tempels wil te Jeruzalem, zullen U de koningen geschenk toebrengen.

31 Scheld het wild gedierte des riets, de vergadering der stieren met de kalveren der volken; en dien, die zich onderwerpt met stukken zilvers; Hij heeft de volken verstrooid, die lust hebben in oorlogen.

32 Prinselijke gezanten zullen komen uit Egypte; Morenland zal zich haasten zijn handen tot God uit te strekken.

33 Gij koninkrijken der aarde, zingt Gode; psalmzingt den Heere! Sela.

34 Dien, Die daar rijdt in den hemel der hemelen, Die van ouds is; ziet, Hij geeft Zijn stem, een stem der sterkte.

35 Geeft Gode sterkte! Zijn hoogheid is over Israel, en Zijn sterkte in de bovenste wolken. [ (Psalms 68:36) O God! Gij zijt vreselijk uit Uw heiligdommen; de God Israels, Die geeft den volke sterkte en krachten. Geloofd zij God! ]

Psalmen 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.