DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 68 David speaks of the Lord ascending into heaven and residing there in power. The New Testament quotes and alludes to various ideas from this Psalm as applying to Christ, the Messiah. The Psalm may have been written to celebrate the day when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to the Tabernacle in Jerusalem; or it may have been written to celebrate the capture of Rabbah. Opinion is divided; and commentators also suggest other occasions. The most probable occasion for the Psalm, in my opinion, is the entry of the Ark into the Tabernacle, since it was a time of great rejoicing and high praises for the LORD, as is the case with today's Psalm. The painting above reflects the ascension motif in this Psalm and its New Testament Parallels. (See the next section for historical and New Testament references and for a list of the Messianic Psalms).

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 2 Samuel 6. 2 Samuel 12:26-31. Acts 2:33-36. Ephesians 4:8. Hebrews 8:1. Messianic Psalms: Psalm 2. Psalm 8. Psalm 16. Psalm 22. Psalm 34. Psalm 35. Psalm 40. Psalm 41. Psalm 45. Psalm 68. Psalm 69. Psalm 89. Psalm 102. Psalm 109. Psalm 110. Psalm 118. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 68 - #1. Psalm 68 - #2. Psalm 68 - #3. Psalm 68 - #4. Psalm 68 - #5. Psalm 68 - #6. Psalm 68 - #7. ]

     The first section of the Psalm draws a contrast between the dealings of God with the wicked and the dealings of God with the righteous. He scatters, drives away, and melts the wicked like wax. But he causes the righteous to rejoice and sing; he relieves the fatherless and the widows; he sits the solitary in families; he releases the prisoners but makes the rebels to dwell n a dry land. He goes before his people, leading them like he did when they were in the wilderness (1-7). In the wilderness God shook both heaven and earth. On other occasions, God sent rain and refreshed his inheritance (the land and the people). He caused them to dwell in the land. He scattered armies before them. He glorified his people. The hills rejoiced. God has a mighty army. He ascended on high, leading captives, and receiving gifts for men -- this is applied to Christ in the New Testament. The Lord daily loads us with benefits (8-19). God is the God of our salvation; he controls the issues of death. God will overcome his enemies and bring his people from the depths of the sea. This is a reference to bringing them back from captivity among the nations, which are figuratively called the sea because they are as numerous as the waters of the sea, metaphorically speaking. Enemies will be slain. Songs and dancing will follow. The people will bless God. Nations will come and worship God (20-32). God speaks from the ancient heavens with a mighty voice. We should ascribe strength and excellency to him. He is awe inspiring in his holy places; and he gives strength and power to his people. Blessed be God (33-35).

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
² As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
³ But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
⁴ Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
⁵ A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
⁶ God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
⁷ O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:

⁸ The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
⁹ Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
¹⁰ Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
¹¹ The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
¹² Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
¹³ Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
¹⁴ When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
¹⁵ The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
¹⁶ Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.
¹⁷ The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
¹⁸ Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
¹⁹ Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

²⁰ He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.
²¹ But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
²² The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
²³ That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
²⁴ They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
²⁵ The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
²⁶ Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
²⁷ There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
²⁸ Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
²⁹ Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
³⁰ Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.
³¹ Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
³² Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:

³³ To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
³⁴ Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
³⁵ O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.