Psalms 68

God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him! Wesley traces the opening to Moses' ark-cry (Num 10:35): David knew himself and the ark were types of Christ, and looked through to Christ's victories for His church.

Pray and expect God to arise. Enemies of the church are God's enemies; flee before Him rather than harden under His patience.

Calvin: God arise! Let his enemies scatter; the sentiment is borrowed from Moses (Num 10:35). Observation attests that God needs only to rise up; when enemies ascend for a time, it is divine forbearance until He rises.

Shared comfort—persecutors are named God's enemies. Injuries to the church dishonor His Majesty; He will avenge by the mere forth-putting of His hand.

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God! Wesley's psalm-frame: prayer against God's enemies and for His people opens the song (vv. 1–3).

Formidable arrays can vanish. Do not let smoke blind you; the wicked perish before God's presence as wax before fire.

Calvin: enemies are as smoke driven by wind, as wax melting before fire. The Spirit chides our fearfulness—we allow smoke to blind our eyes and forget that mountains flow down at the Lord's presence.

Strength in enemies is overrated. God's presence, not our estimates, decides their permanence.

But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Wesley: the righteous rejoice when God arises against haters of His name.

Gladness is the church's portion when God shows Himself. Exult before Him; joy occupies the affections He delivers.

Calvin: when God is formidable to the wicked, it is to secure the Church's deliverance. The wicked flee from His presence in terror; the righteous rejoice because nothing delights them more than that God is near.

Presence terrifies some and comforts others. Leap for exultation under the God who is propitious to His people.

Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to the LORD, his name! Rejoice before him! Wesley: Jah—an abbreviation of Jehovah. Before him—before the ark where He is present, as David danced before the Lord (2 Sam 6:14).

Sing the Name. Extol Him who rides on the deserts; cheerful praise fits the God who comes near by His ark and Name.

Calvin: sing unto God—exalt Him that rides upon the clouds in Jah His name. Infinite power sits superior over all; yet draw near with cheerfulness, for this God condescends to the wretched.

Both traditions join in this doxology. Set aside vain idols; Jah is His name—rejoice before the rider of the heavens.

Father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. Wesley: Habitation—in heaven. The high God stoops to orphans and widows.

Father and protector of the overlooked. Holy habitation does not distance Him from the fatherless; trust His nearness in heaven's throne and temple care.

Calvin: father of the fatherless and judge of the widows—God in the habitation of His holiness. Orphans and widows name all the world overlooks; His incomprehensible glory does not keep Him from stooping to our lowest depths.

Heaven is His throne for judgment, and His residence with men encourages the poor. He is not far off.

God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land. Wesley: Rebellious—those who rebel against God. Kindness to the lonely and bound stands beside dry judgment on rebels.

Shared double edge—homes for the solitary, freedom for prisoners, drought for the rebellious. Do not envy rebels' temporary ease; turn from revolt while mercy still settles and leads out.

Calvin: God sets the solitary in families and brings out those bound with chains; the rebellious dwell in a dry land. Comfort under affliction: we are in God's hand. The wicked may prosper briefly, yet are banished as to a wilderness, deprived of fatherly kindness they abused.

Providence houses and frees, and also parches the rebel. Envy not their lot; fear the dry land of those who despise Him.

God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah. Wesley: Wentest—in the cloudy pillar, as their captain leading them up out of Egypt.

Shared Exodus memory—God went out before His people. March with the Captain who led through the wilderness; Selah pauses over leading grace.

Calvin: when Thou wentest forth before Thy people through the wilderness—the chief pledge of favor to Abraham's seed. Heaven and earth were put in commotion that all might recognize God's power allied with the Church's deliverance.

God as leader, not mere spectator. Wilderness marches prove covenant love for succeeding ages.

“The earth trembled.” The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai— at the presence of God, the God of Israel. Wesley: Dropped—poured down great showers which accompanied those mighty thunders.

Shared Sinai awe—earth quakes and heavens pour before the God of Israel. The true God shook Sinai; fashion no idols of wood or gold beside Him.

Calvin: the earth was moved, the heavens dropped at the presence of this God—Sinai at the presence of the God of Israel. Sinai presented the most glorious spectacle of majesty; "this God" marks the God of Abraham as the true God against heathen invention.

God’s presence at Sinai strengthens faith. The Lord of Israel is no vague uncertainty; tremble and trust before Him.

You, God, sent a plentiful rain; you confirmed your inheritance when it was weary. Wesley: Weary—dry and thirsty, parched with heat, ready to faint for want of rain.

Abundant rain restores languishing inheritance. Ask for showers on weary ground; God's free rain refreshes what heat has drained.

Calvin: a liberal rain—literally a rain of freenesses—alludes to blessing in free favor. God watered the inheritance seasonably; Judea owed fertility to rains of heaven, refreshed when weary.

Unprompted goodness prepares food. Inheritance is God's gift; rain of freeness keeps the people dependent on Him.

“Your congregation lived therein.” You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor. Wesley: Thy congregation—the people of Israel. Poor—such they were when God undertook their conduct into Canaan.

Goodness provides for the needy flock. Dwell as congregation in the land He prepared; remember poverty that first received His conduct.

Calvin: Thy congregation shall dwell therein; Thou wilt prepare in Thy goodness for the poor. The land is blessed as habitation of God's Church; He proportioned kindness so they always depended on Him.

Goodness, not merit, feeds the poor people. Daily provision trains expectation toward the Giver.

The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great host. Wesley: Gave—He put this triumphant song into their mouths.

The Lord announced the word of victory news. Publish what He puts in the mouth; women announcing good news model grateful witness.

Calvin: the Lord shall give the word to the women who announce the great army—God determines the successful issue of battles. Women sang triumph as Miriam and those who celebrated David's victory over Goliath.

Victories are owing to God. Songs of praise are His gift; gratitude must proclaim His benefits.

They flee!" The women at home divides the plunder— Wesley: Kings—of Canaan and other nations with great armies. The spoil—enough also for wives and children at home.

Kings flee twice over. Home-dividers of spoil prove how complete God's rout can be; trust Him against armies you cannot match.

Calvin: kings of armies shall flee—shall flee; she that tarries at home divides the spoil. The verb repeated shows attacks repelled once and again; spoil so great that females at home share it.

Divine favor puts formidable kings to flight. Stand not in your own strength; God stands forward as defender.

“While you sleep among the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold.” Wesley: Ye Israelites—though formerly exposed to reproach and misery, God changed your condition. Gold—beautiful like dove feathers under shifting light.

From sheepfolds to silver wings. Affliction does not annul beauty God restores; hope for changed condition under His hand.

Calvin: though ye lie among the pots, yet as wings of a dove sheathed with silver. Believers may lie under darkness yet are preserved; the dove contracts no lasting defilement—the Church emerges and recovers beauty.

Hidden power preserves the afflicted. Calamity is not the last appearance of God's people.

When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon. Wesley: Therein—in Canaan at Israel's coming; the land white as Salmon with snow.

The Almighty scatters kings. Whitened land after battle images honor restored; ascribe the white field to God, not to chance.

Calvin: when the Almighty scattered kings—the land recovered fair appearance like Salmon white with snow. Hostile confusion blackened the country; God dispelled darkness of oppression.

Scattering kings is Almighty work. Snow-brightness after gloom is His gift to the church's land.

O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan! Wesley: The hill—Zion, seat of God's ark. High—not external height but spiritual exaltation in privileges of God's presence.

Zion's height is spiritual. Prefer the mount of God's presence over Bashan's peaks of worldly fame.

Calvin: the hill of God—source of kindness, for God chose Zion for palace and temple. Bashan may boast fertility and height, yet must yield to the mount God consecrated by irrevocable decree.

Election of Zion grounds blessing. One mountain God chose; worldly heights cannot equal His abode.

Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, the LORD will dwell there forever? Wesley: Leap—why triumph and look on Zion with contempt? Will dwell—this hill, despicable in your eyes, is precious in God's for perpetual residence.

God desired Zion forever. Do not envy high hills; rest in the abode He chose and will not abandon.

Calvin: why leap ye, ye high hills?—only one mountain God chose; the kingdom of Christ shadowed in David excels all worldly glory. Ungodly boast; God's people may leave them to self-complacency while united to God.

Forever dwelling silences rival hills. Christ's kingdom, not carnal height, is God's desire.

The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary. Wesley: Chariots—armies attending God. Twenty thousand—innumerable. Among them—the psalmist is transported to the Messiah; greater privilege than Sinai—Jehovah descending into human body, as His ascending next describes.

Shared messianic turn—Sinai glory now in the sanctuary, pointing to incarnation and ascension. Count angel chariots; still more, count the Lord among them for His people.

Calvin: chariots of God are twenty thousand thousands of angels—the Lord among them as in Sinai in the holy place. Countless myriads at His command; Sinai is recalled so faith in His presence may be drawn from Law and Prophets.

Angel hosts and Sinai-in-sanctuary exalt God's presence. One God among them outweighs a universe of angels; fortify faith from covenant revelation.

You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among people, yes, among the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell there. Wesley: Ascended—manifest reference to Christ and His ascension, literally accomplished in Him and ascribed to Him (Eph 4:8). Captivity—death, sin, the devil, and all enemies Christ led in triumph (Col 2:15). Received—in His manhood all gifts of the Spirit for the church. Rebellious—stubborn enemies, Jews or Gentiles. Might dwell—He who as man ascended may as God dwell by ordinances and Spirit in hearts.

Shared with Calvin and Paul—Christ ascended, led captivity captive, and gifts serve His dwelling among men. Even rebels are in view; receive the ascended Lord's gifts and welcome His dwelling.

Calvin: Thou hast ascended on high, led captivity captive, received gifts among men, even the rebellious also, that the LORD Jehovah might dwell among His people. David shadowed Christ's eternal kingdom; Paul applies this to Christ (Eph 4:8)—emptied, then exalted, making enemies tributary by the gospel. He distributes gifts to adorn His Church; ascending, He fills all things and still dwells among us.

Shared messianic reading with Wesley and Ephesians—ascension, captives, gifts, and divine dwelling. Christ holds rebels and reprobates under control and nourishes the church from His exaltation.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. Selah. Wesley's frame places ascension and the salvation of His people together (vv. 18–20).

Shared daily doxology—bless the Lord who bears us up. Salvation is not rare emergency only; receive today's bearing and answer with blessing.

Calvin: Blessed be the Lord daily—He loads us with deliverances. Particular victories must not draw minds from constant care; God extends continued kindness and is unwearied in renewing it.

Daily bearing, not occasional only. Selah over the God of our salvation who never ceases to carry His people.

God is to us a God of deliverance. To GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death. Wesley: Issues—escapes or deliverances.

Issues from death belong to the Lord. When ways out are invisible, trust the God of salvations who opens escapes.

Calvin: our God is the God of salvations; to the Lord belong the issues from death. Salvations plural—death may threaten in many forms; God has singular ways of delivering. He often lets His people fall in some measure under death's power, then unexpectedly rescues.

Do not judge deliverance by sight. Issues from death are His peculiar work; trust Him in the deep.

But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guilty ways. Wesley: Hairy—ancient warriors wore long shaggy hair to look terrible.

Shared warning—God wounds the head of those who go on in trespasses. Do not walk still in guilty ways; terrible looks do not shield from His stroke.

Calvin: God shall wound the head of His enemies and the crown of hair of him who walks on in wickedness—a deadly wound. He counts persecutors of the righteous His enemies and is ready to defend His church.

Continued guilt meets certain stroke. Protection of the righteous includes judgment on obstinate foes.

The Lord said, "I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea, Wesley: Bring again—deliverances as great as from Og of Bashan and from Egypt at the Red Sea.

Shared promise—Bashan and sea depths cannot hide from God's bringing. Remember first deliverances as warrant for present hope.

Calvin: I will bring back from Bashan and from the depths of the sea—God speaks, sending Israel to early redemption. Passage through sea and victory over giants were a species of resurrection; He who raised them then will defend in like dangers.

Original redemption argues future help. The Lord's "I will" outruns Bashan heights and sea depths.

“That you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.” They have seen your processions, God, even the foe." Wesley: as at Red Sea and Bashan, enemies slain in such numbers that feet wade and dogs lick blood in the field.

Shared hard victory image—total overthrow of foes. Rejoice not in cruelty for its own sake, but in God's defense of His people against destroyers.

Calvin: foot stained with blood; tongue of dogs in that of enemies. God stained with blood ascribes not cruelty but zeal for His people's defense; vengeance on the wicked displays divine judgment.

Enemies shall not finally triumph. Graphic judgment sobers the church into trust, not bloodlust.

They have seen your processions, God, the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary; Wesley: They—men saw it. Goings—procession of the ark to Zion. Sanctuary—the tabernacle prepared for it.

Watch and join the procession; public worship makes His kingship visible.

Calvin: they have seen Thy goings—God as King leading His armies, with allusion to the sanctuary as symbol of presence. David calls Him my King to divert attention from frail David to the supreme Head.

Procession into the sanctuary reveals the true King. Guardianship goes forth because He hears prayer there.

“The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, among the ladies playing with tambourines.” Wesley describes the solemn pomp of carrying the ark; choirs and timbrels fill the train.

Shared ordered praise—singers, players, tambourines. Let every rank take its place in thanksgiving; victory processions belong to God.

Calvin: singers went before, players followed, damsels with timbrels—not battle array but solemn assembly for thanksgivings. God showed Himself leader in war; to Him the song of triumph is addressed.

After the victory, worship proceeds in order. Distinct choirs serve the God who won the field.

"Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!" Wesley: Fountain—all ye people of Israel.

Bless God from Israel's fountain. Congregational blessing is duty of the whole stock; hypocrisy of lips alone will not do.

Calvin: Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, O ye of the fountain of Israel—all who deduce origin from Jacob are summoned. True saints walk in Abraham's faith; vain boasters are distinguished from the fountain's true children.

Both agree: Congregation-wide blessing. Fountain language calls the covenant people to sincere praise.

There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. Wesley: Little—Benjamin diminished under the Judges. Ruler—Judah's tribe now submitted to David. Zebulun and Naphtali—remotest tribes; naming near and far intimates all came (2 Sam 6:15–19).

Least and farthest join the ark's pomp. No tribe too small or remote for the King's procession; take your place.

Calvin: little Benjamin, princes of Judah, Zebulun, and Naphtali—near and far tribes in the sacred assembly. Benjamin's "ruler" honor need not revive Saul's condemned reign; small tribes form one head in Israel under David.

Agreed: Whole-people worship. Primacy of Judah and presence of the least display unity under God's king.

Summon your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us. Wesley: Thy God—speech directed to Israel. Commanded—ordained or effectually procured. Thy strength—all strength put forth at any time.

Ask Him to summon again the power already worked for you. Past strength is gift; pray for present strengthening of what grace began—do not presume without asking.

Calvin: Thy God hath commanded thy strength; strengthen, O God, what Thou hast wrought. Victories were not by Israel's own power; more is required than preventing grace—we stand constantly in need of assistance throughout life.

Shared dependence—power commanded from above. Perseverance in conflict, especially spiritual, requires ongoing grace from the God who first wrought.

Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring presents to you. Wesley: Temple—which Solomon shall build. Kings—Gentile kings; in part under Solomon and Hezekiah, more fully when the Lord came into His temple.

Temple draws kings' gifts. Honor God's dwelling; expect wider homage when Christ is known in His temple.

Calvin: from Thy temple upon Jerusalem kings shall bring presents. Power issues from sanctuary and covenant; subdued kings acknowledge God as conqueror and become tributary—an obligation to free-will offerings of praise.

Temple presence summons royal gifts. Covenant localized at Jerusalem aims at acknowledged rule among kings.

Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls with the calves of the peoples. Scatter the nations who delight in war. Wesley: Rebuke—chastise those who will not bring presents. Bulls—fierce adversaries; calves—dependents. Delight—those who make war from love of mischief.

Shared prayer—rebuke war-delighting peoples. Ask God to scatter lust for tribute; the church remains soft-hearted while He humbles bulls and reeds-beasts.

Calvin: destroy the company of spearmen—bulls with calves of the people; scatter those who delight in war. David still commends the people to God after victories; the church is never in perfect worldly tranquillity.

Ongoing enemies require ongoing rebuke. Delight in war marks those God will scatter; trust His protection.

Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God. Wesley: Ethiopia—ancient enemies standing for like nations. Unto God—begging mercy. This prophecy, with the next verse, belongs to the times of the Messiah.

Shared messianic hope—Egypt and Cush stretch hands to God. Pray and labor for the nations' submission; mercy begged is mercy offered in the gospel age.

Calvin: princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall stretch out hands unto God. The prediction extends to Christ, by whom Egyptians and Ethiopians are brought under God's sway—submission of once distant peoples.

Shared with Wesley—Messiah gathers former foes. Hands stretched to God fulfill the psalm beyond David's partial tributes.

Sing praises to the Lord— Selah. Wesley's outline: accession of the Gentiles (vv. 29–31) opens into worldwide song.

Shared mission summons—kingdoms of the earth, sing. Selah over Gentile praise; invite the nations into the song already started.

Calvin: sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth—those once hostile ranked among willing worshippers. Knowledge of God precedes praise; Moses and the prophets invite Gentiles—proof of their calling.

Earth's kingdoms are addressed because Creator-rule and gospel promise meet. Sing, for worship will not stay in one land forever.

“To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.” Wesley: Heavens—highest heavens from of old, unlike the ark's few centuries. A voice—His gospel by Christ and apostles, assisted by the Spirit; a mighty voice for great effects.

Hear the mighty gospel voice from ancient heavens. The rider of old heavens still speaks; believe and obey the voice that works wonders.

Calvin: He rides upon the heaven of heavens of old—supreme power over all creatures from the beginning. Mighty voice—thunder that arrests security; God thunders to impress awe, and His command shakes heaven and earth.

Ancient heavens and mighty voice humble the earth. Behold His governance; let thunder and gospel alike produce reverence.

Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies. Wesley: Ascribe—acknowledge He can do whatsoever He pleases. Excellency—over Israel; universal Lord, yet in special manner God of Israel.

Ascribe power, do not hoard credit. Majesty over Israel and power in the skies meet in one God; confess both universality and covenant nearness.

Calvin: give strength unto God over Israel—His strength in the clouds. We give Him nothing properly, yet must sound His praises and repose in His all-sufficient protection; the God of Israel guards against Gentile religious error.

Ascribe strength by trusting His protection. Excellency over Israel anchors praise in revelation, not vague theism.

You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God! Wesley: Terrible—deservedly to be feared. The psalm ends in awful acknowledgment of God's glory and grace.

Shared final blessing—awesome from His sanctuary, yet Giver of strength to His people. Fear Him rightly; receive power as gift; end with "Praise be to God!"

Calvin: God is terrible out of His holy places; the God of Israel gives strength and power to His people. Protection enough to confound enemies issues from the sanctuary; Israel trusts by free covenant grace. Blessed be God.

Awesome holiness and given strength together. The church's power is received; bless the God who still exerts terrible displays for His people.