For the music director; by David, a psalm, a song.
68:1 God springs into action!
His enemies scatter;
his adversaries run from him.
68:2 As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away.
As wax melts before fire,
so the wicked are destroyed before God.
68:3 But the godly are happy;
they rejoice before God
and are overcome with joy.
68:4 Sing to God! Sing praises to his name!
Exalt the one who rides on the clouds!
For the LORD is his name!
Rejoice before him!
68:5 He is a father to the fatherless
and an advocate for widows.
God rules from his holy palace.
68:6 God settles those who have been deserted in their own homes;
he frees prisoners and grants them prosperity.
But sinful rebels live in the desert.
68:7 O God, when you lead your people into battle,
when you march through the desert,
(Selah)
68:8 the earth shakes,
yes, the heavens pour down rain
before God, the God of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
68:9 O God, you cause abundant showers to fall on your chosen people.
When they are tired, you sustain them,
68:10 for you live among them.
You sustain the oppressed with your good blessings, O God.
68:11 The Lord speaks;
many, many women spread the good news.
Many, many women spread the good news – The feminine plural is used, confirming the accuracy of translation. NIV84 – ‘great was the company of those who proclaimed it’, is corrected in the updated NIV to: ‘the women who proclaim it were a mighty throng.’ So also ESV – ‘the women who announce the news are a great host.’
Beth Tanner (NICOT) notes that this translation is supported by the fact that:
‘it was women who were primarily responsible for singing songs of victory, at least in the earlier periods of Israel’s history.’
68:12 Kings leading armies run away—they run away!
The lovely lady of the house divides up the loot.
68:13 When you lie down among the sheepfolds,
the wings of the dove are covered with silver
and with glittering gold.
68:14 When the sovereign judge scatters kings,
let it snow on Zalmon!
68:15 The mountain of Bashan is a towering mountain;
the mountain of Bashan is a mountain with many peaks.
68:16 Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks,
at the mountain where God has decided to live?
Indeed the LORD will live there permanently!
68:17 God has countless chariots;
they number in the thousands.
The Lord comes from Sinai in holy splendor.
68:18 You ascend on high,
you have taken many captives.
You receive tribute from men,
including even sinful rebels.
Indeed the LORD God lives there!
‘Which phrase on high in the language of David signifying heaven, could be applied properly to no other conqueror but the Messias; not to Moses, not to David, not to Joshua, not to any but the Christ. who was to conquer sin, and death, and hell, and triumphing over them to ascend unto the highest heaven, and thence to send the precious and glorious gifts of the Spirit unto the sons of men.’ (Pearson, on the Creed)