Psalms 68:2

2 As smoke faileth, fail they; as wax floateth (away) from the face of fire, so perish [the] sinners from the face of God. (Like smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish; like wax melteth in the fire, so let the sinners perish in the presence of God.)

Psalms 68:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 68:2

As smoke is driven away, so drive [them] away
This both describes the character of wicked men, Christ's enemies; as their darkness and ignorance, their will worship and superstition, and their detestableness to God, ( Revelation 9:2 ) ( Isaiah 65:5 ) ; and the manner of their destruction; which is as easily brought about as smoke is driven by the wind, and is as irretrievable, like smoke that vanisheth into air ^F15; see ( Psalms 37:20 ) ( Isaiah 51:6 ) ;

as wax melteth before fire;
whereby its consistency, form, and strength, are lost. Respect may be had, both in this and the foregoing metaphor, to the fire of, divine wrath, and the smoke of eternal torments; since it follows:

[so] let the wicked perish at the presence of God;
the appearance of Christ, either in his awful dispensation against the Jews, or in the last judgment; when the wicked shall not be able to stand before his face, but shall call to the rocks and mountains to hide them from him; and when they shall be bid to depart from him, and shall be punished with everlasting destruction in soul and body, from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 "----et tenues fugit, ceu fumus in auras". Virgil. Aeneid. 5. prope finem.

Psalms 68:2 In-Context

1 To victory, the psalm of the song of David. God rise up, and his enemies be scattered; and they that hate him, flee from his face. (May God rise up, and his enemies be scattered; and they who hate him, flee from his face.)

2 As smoke faileth, fail they; as wax floateth (away) from the face of fire, so perish [the] sinners from the face of God. (Like smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish; like wax melteth in the fire, so let the sinners perish in the presence of God.)

3 And just men eat, and make they fully joy in the sight of God; and delight they in gladness. (But the righteous be glad, and make full out joy, or rejoice, before God; yea, delight they, and be glad.)

4 Sing ye to God, say ye psalm to his name; make ye [a] way to him, that ascendeth on the going down, the Lord is name of him. Make ye fully joy in his sight, (his) enemies shall be troubled from the face of him, (Sing ye to God, sing ye a song to his name; make ye a way for him, who rideth over the plains of the desert/who rideth upon the clouds, yea, the Lord is his name. Make ye full out joy, or rejoice, before him, but his enemies shall be troubled before him,)

5 which is the father of fatherless and motherless children; and the judge of widows (who is the father of the fatherless and the motherless; and the judge of widows). God is in his holy place;