Westminster Annotations, Psalms · Psalm 68
PSAL. LXVIII.
Title. A psalm or song] See Notes on the title of psal. 30.
Vers. 1. LEt God arise] He prayeth unto God, that although he suffer wicked tyrants to oppresse his Church for a time, yet at length he would be revenged of them.
Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also, &c.] Num. 10. 35.
before him] Heb. from his face.
V. 3. But let the righteous be glad] He sheweth, that when God declareth his power against the wicked, it is for the commodity and salvation of his Church, which praiseth him therefore.
let the righteous be glad] Psal. 32. 11.
be glad] Isai. 65. 14.
exceedingly rejoyce] Heb. rejoyce with gladnesse.
V. 4. by this name, Jah] Jah and Jehovah are the Names of God, which do signifie his Essence, and Majestie incomprehensible: so that hereby is declared, That all idolls are but vanity, and that the God of Israel is the onelyonly true God, and true of his Word, Exod. 6. 3.
V. 5. A father of the fatherlesse] Psal. 10. 14, 18.
V. 6. God setteth the solitarie in families] He giveth children to them that be childlesse, and encreaseth their families, 1 Sam. 22. 5.
in families] Heb. in a house.
in a drie land] Which is barren of Gods blessings, which before they had abused, psal. 107. 41.
V. 7. O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people] He teacheth that Gods favour peculiarly belongeth to his Church, as appeareth by their wonderfull deliverance out of Egypt.
when thou wentest forth before thy people] Judg. 5. 4, 5.
V. 9. send] Heb. shake out.
confirm] Heb. confirm it.
inheritance] Deut. 11. 11, 12.
V. 10. of thy goodnesse] God blessed the land of Canaan, because he had chosen that place for his Church: or, in reference to the foregoing passages, it may be understood of Gods goodnesse in providing for them, and refreshing them in the wildernesse.
V. 11. company] Heb. army.
of those that published it] The fashion then was, that women sang songs after the victory, as Mitiam, Deborah and others. In Hebrew it is, of the she-publishers, Exod. 15. Judg. 5. and 11. 34.
V. 12. did flee apace] Heb. did flee, did flee.
she that tarried at home] The prey was so great, that not onelyonly the souldiers, but women also had part thereof.
V. 13. among the pots] Though God suffer his Church for a time to lie in darknesse, like a black scullion among the pots, yet he will restore it, and make it most shining and bright.
V. 14. in it, it] Or, for her, she was.
in it] In the land of Canaan, where his Church was called his inheritance, v. 9. or, in the wildernesse, Num. 21. 24, 34. Psal. 135. 10, 11.
V. 15. The hill of God] Zion, the Church of God, doth excell all worldly things, not in pomp and outward shew, but by the inward grace of God which there remaineth, because of his dwelling there.
V. 16. Why leap ye, ye high hills?] Why boast you of your strength and beauty, against this mountain of God?
hill which God desireth to dwell in] Psal. 87. 132. and 132. 13.
V. 17. twenty thousand] Dan. 7. 10.
even thousands] Or, even many thousands.
V. 18. thou hast led captivitie captive] As God overcame the enemies of his Church, took them prisoners, and made them tributaries; so Christ, which is God manifested in the flesh, subdued satan and sin under us, and gave unto his Church most liberall gifts of his Spirit, Eph. 4. 8.
hast received] Or, having received, gavest.
for men] Heb. in the man, or, to men.
V. 20. He that is our God, is the God of salvation] Or, God is to us a god of salvation.
salvation] Heb. salvations: That is, all manner of salvations, or manifold deliverances.
unto God the Lord belong the issues from death] In most extreme dangers God hath infinite ways to deliver his.
V. 22. from Bashan] As he delivered his Church once from Og of Bashan and other tyrants, and from the dangers of the red-sea, so will he still do, as often as necessity requireth.
V. 23. dipped] Or, red.
in the same] That is, in the blood of a great slaughter, where dogs shall lap blood: not unlike that, psal. 58. 10.
V. 24. thy goings] It is like he means, when David carried the ark into the Sanctuary: or, among his people, when he marched thorow the wildernesse before them, v. 7.
in] Or, into.
V. 25. The singers went before] See v. 11.
V. 26. from the fountain of Israel] Or, yo that are of the fountain of Israel. Ye numerous issue coming from Jacob, as waters out of a fountain, Gen. 35. 11. Isai. 48. 1. Heb. 11. 12.
V. 27. little Benjamin] Benjamin is called little, because he was the youngest son of Jacob, and his tribe was almost destroyed, Judg. 20.
their ruler] Who was some chief ruler of the tribe.
and their counsell] Or, with their company.
V. 28. commanded thy strength] Psal. 44. 4.
V. 29. Because of thy temple at Jerusalem] When thy stately temple shall be built, kings, seeing the glory of it, shall bring thee presents, psal. 45. 12.
V. 30. Rebuke the company of spear-men] psal. 76. 6. He requesteth God to destroy those mighty enemies of his Church, whom he compares to fat bulls and beasts sed in rich pastures and meadows, psal. 22. 12.
the company of spear-men] Or, the beast of the reeds.
spear-men] Or, archers.
till every one submit himself] Come to do homage, and bring a present. See v. 29.
scatter thou] Or, he scattereth.
V. 31. out of Egypt] He prophesieth that the Gentiles shall come to the true knowledge and worship of God, Isai. 19. 21. Zeph. 3. 10.
V. 33. he doth send out his voice] By his terrible thunders he will make himself known to be the God of all the world, psal. 29. 3, &c. Exod. 20. 18. Job 32. 2, &c.
send] Heb. give.
V. 34. his excellencie is over Israel] Gods glory is seen most in his Church and in heaven, psal. 29. 9.
clouds] Or, heavens.
V. 35. thou art terrible] In shewing fearfull judgements upon thine enemies.
out of thy holy places] In the tabernacle and in heaven, both mentioned, v. 34. Psal. 14. 7.