mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 68.xml

<div2 id="Ps.lxix" n="lxix" next="Ps.lxx" prev="Ps.lxviii" progress="44.32%" title="Chapter LXVIII">
<h2 id="Ps.lxix-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.lxix-p0.2">PSALM LXVIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.lxix-p1">This is a most excellent psalm, but in many places
the genuine sense is not easy to come at; for in this, as in some
other scriptures, there are things dark and hard to be understood.
It does not appear when, or upon what occasion, David penned this
psalm; but probably it was when, God having given him rest from all
his enemies round about, he brought the ark (which was both the
token of God's presence and a type of Christ's mediation) from the
house of Obed-edom to the tent he had pitched for it in Zion; for
the first words are the prayer which Moses used at the removing of
the ark, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.10.35" parsed="|Num|10|35|0|0" passage="Nu 10:35">Num. x. 35</scripRef>. From
this he is led, by the Spirit of prophecy, to speak glorious things
concerning the Messiah, his ascension into heaven, and the setting
up of his kingdom in the world. I. He begins with prayer, both
against God's enemies (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.1-Ps.68.2" parsed="|Ps|68|1|68|2" passage="Ps 68:1,2">ver. 1,
2</scripRef>) and for his people, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.3" parsed="|Ps|68|3|0|0" passage="Ps 68:3">ver.
3</scripRef>. II. He proceeds to praise, which takes up the rest of
the psalm, calling upon all to praise God (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.4 Bible:Ps.68.26 Bible:Ps.68.32" parsed="|Ps|68|4|0|0;|Ps|68|26|0|0;|Ps|68|32|0|0" passage="Ps 68:4,26,32">ver. 4, 26, 32</scripRef>) and suggesting many
things as matter for praise. 1. The greatness and goodness of God,
<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.4-Ps.68.6" parsed="|Ps|68|4|68|6" passage="Ps 68:4-6">ver. 4-6</scripRef>. 2. The wonderful
works God had wrought for his people formerly, bringing them
through the wilderness (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.7-Ps.68.8" parsed="|Ps|68|7|68|8" passage="Ps 68:7,8">ver. 7,
8</scripRef>), settling them in Canaan (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.9-Ps.68.10" parsed="|Ps|68|9|68|10" passage="Ps 68:9,10">ver. 9, 10</scripRef>), giving them victory over their
enemies (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.11-Ps.68.12" parsed="|Ps|68|11|68|12" passage="Ps 68:11,12">ver. 11, 12</scripRef>),
and delivering them out of the hands of their oppressors, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.13-Ps.68.14" parsed="|Ps|68|13|68|14" passage="Ps 68:13,14">ver. 13, 14</scripRef>. 3. The special
presence of God in his church, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.15-Ps.68.17" parsed="|Ps|68|15|68|17" passage="Ps 68:15-17">ver.
15-17</scripRef>. 4. The ascension of Christ (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.18" parsed="|Ps|68|18|0|0" passage="Ps 68:18">ver. 18</scripRef>) and the salvation of his people by
him, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p1.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.19-Ps.68.20" parsed="|Ps|68|19|68|20" passage="Ps 68:19,20">ver. 19, 20</scripRef>. 5. The
victories which Christ would obtain over his enemies, and the
favours he would bestow upon his church, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p1.13" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.21-Ps.68.28" parsed="|Ps|68|21|68|28" passage="Ps 68:21-28">ver. 21-28</scripRef>. 6. The enlargement of the
church by the accession of the Gentiles to it, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p1.14" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.29-Ps.68.31" parsed="|Ps|68|29|68|31" passage="Ps 68:29-31">ver. 29-31</scripRef>. And so he concludes the psalm
with an awful acknowledgment of the glory and grace of God,
<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p1.15" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.32-Ps.68.35" parsed="|Ps|68|32|68|35" passage="Ps 68:32-35">ver. 32-35</scripRef>. With all
these great things we should endeavour to be duly affected in
singing this psalm.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.lxix-p1.16" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68" parsed="|Ps|68|0|0|0" passage="Ps 68" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.lxix-p1.17" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.1-Ps.68.6" parsed="|Ps|68|1|68|6" passage="Ps 68:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.68.1-Ps.68.6">
<h4 id="Ps.lxix-p1.18">Prayer for the Dispersion of God's
Enemies.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.lxix-p1.19">
<p id="Ps.lxix-p2">To the chief musician. A psalm <i>or</i> song of David.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxix-p3">1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered:
let them also that hate him flee before him.   2 As smoke is
driven away, <i>so</i> drive <i>them</i> away: as wax melteth
before the fire, <i>so</i> 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, <i>is</i> 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 <i>land.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p4">In these verses,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p5">I. David prays that God would appear in his
glory,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p6">1. For the confusion of his enemies
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.1-Ps.68.2" parsed="|Ps|68|1|68|2" passage="Ps 68:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1, 2</scripRef>): "<i>Let
God arise,</i> as a judge to pass sentence upon them, as a general
to take the field and do execution upon them; <i>and let them be
scattered,</i> and flee before him, as unable to keep their ground,
much less to make head against him. Let God arise, as the sun when
he goes forth in his strength; and the children of darkness shall
be scattered, as the shadows of the evening flee before the rising
sun. Let them be driven away as smoke by the wind, which ascends as
if it would eclipse the sun, but is presently dispelled, and there
appears to remainder of it. Let them melt <i>as wax before the
fire,</i> which is quickly dissolved." Thus does David comment upon
Moses's prayer, and not only repeat it with application to himself
and his own times, but enlarge upon it, to direct us how to make
use of scripture-prayers. Nay, it looks further, to the Redeemer's
victory over the enemies of this kingdom, for he was the angel of
the covenant, that guided Israel through the wilderness. Note, (1.)
There are, and have been, and ever will be, such as are enemies to
God and hate him, that join in with the old serpent against the
kingdom of God among men and against the seed of the woman. (2.)
They are the wicked, and none but the wicked, that are enemies to
God, the children of the wicked one. (3.) Though we are to pray for
our enemies as such, yet we are to pray against God's enemies as
such, against their enmity to him and all their attempts upon his
kingdom. (4.) If God but arise, all his impenitent and implacable
enemies, that will not repent to give him glory, will certainly and
speedily be scattered, and driven away, and made to perish at his
presence; for none ever hardened his heart against God and
prospered. The day of judgment will be the day of the complete and
final <i>perdition of ungodly men</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.3.7" parsed="|2Pet|3|7|0|0" passage="2Pe 3:7">2 Pet. iii. 7</scripRef>), who shall melt like wax before
that flaming fire in which the Lord shall then appear, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.1.8" parsed="|2Thess|1|8|0|0" passage="2Th 1:8">2 Thess. i. 8</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p7">2. For the comfort and joy of his own
people (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.3" parsed="|Ps|68|3|0|0" passage="Ps 68:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>):
"<i>Let the righteous be glad,</i> that are now in sorrow; <i>let
them rejoice before God</i> in his favourable presence. God is the
joy of his people; let them rejoice whenever they come before God,
yea, let them exceedingly rejoice, let them rejoice with gladness."
Note, Those who rejoice in God have reason to rejoice with
exceeding joy; and this joy we ought to wish to all the saints, for
it belongs to them. <i>Light is sown for the righteous.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p8">II. He praises God for his glorious
appearances, and calls upon us to praise him, to sing to his name,
and extol him,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p9">1. As a great God, infinitely great
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.4" parsed="|Ps|68|4|0|0" passage="Ps 68:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): He <i>rides
upon the heavens, by his name JAH.</i> He is the spring of all the
motions of the heavenly bodies, directs and manages them, as he
that rides in the chariot sets it a-going, has a supreme command of
the influences of heaven; he rides upon the heavens for the help of
his people (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.33.26" parsed="|Deut|33|26|0|0" passage="De 33:26">Deut. xxxiii.
26</scripRef>), so swiftly, so strongly, and so much above the
reach of opposition. He rules these by his name <i>Jah,</i> or
<i>Jehovah,</i> a self-existent self-sufficient being; the fountain
of all being, power, motion, and perfection; this is his name for
ever. When we thus extol God we must <i>rejoice before him.</i>
Holy joy in God will very well consist with that reverence and
godly fear wherewith we ought to worship him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p10">2. As a gracious God, a God of mercy and
tender compassion. He is great, but he despises not any, no, not
the meanest; nay, being a God of great power, he uses his power for
the relief of those that are distressed, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.5-Ps.68.6" parsed="|Ps|68|5|68|6" passage="Ps 68:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>. The fatherless, the widows,
the solitary, find him a God all-sufficient to them. Observe how
much God's goodness is his glory. He that <i>rides on the heavens
by his name Jah,</i> one would think should immediately have been
adored as King of kings and Lord of lords, and the sovereign
director of all the affairs of states and nations; he is so, but
this he rather glories in, that he is <i>a Father of the
fatherless. Though God be high, yet has he respect unto the
lowly.</i> Happy are those that have an interest in such a God as
this. He that <i>rides upon the heavens</i> is a Father worth
having; thrice <i>happy are the people whose God is the Lord.</i>
(1.) When families are bereaved of their head God takes care of
them, and is himself their head; and the widows and the fatherless
children shall find that in him which they have lost in the
relation that is removed, and infinitely more and better. He is
<i>a Father of the fatherless,</i> to pity them, to bless them, to
teach them, to provide for them, to portion them. He will
<i>preserve them alive</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.49.11" parsed="|Jer|49|11|0|0" passage="Jer 49:11">Jer.
xlix. 11</scripRef>), and with him they shall <i>find mercy,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.3" parsed="|Hos|14|3|0|0" passage="Ho 14:3">Hos. xiv. 3</scripRef>. They have
liberty to call him Father, and to plead their relation to him as
their guardian, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.146.9 Bible:Ps.10.14 Bible:Ps.10.18" parsed="|Ps|146|9|0|0;|Ps|10|14|0|0;|Ps|10|18|0|0" passage="Ps 146:9,Ps 10:14,18">Ps. cxlvi.
9; x. 14, 18</scripRef>. He is a judge or patron of the widows, to
give them counsel and to redress their grievances, to own them and
plead their cause, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Prov.22.23" parsed="|Prov|22|23|0|0" passage="Pr 22:23">Prov. xxii.
23</scripRef>. He has an ear open to all their complaints and a
hand open to all their wants. He is so <i>in his holy
habitation,</i> which may be understood either of the habitation of
his glory in heaven (there he has prepared his throne of judgment,
which the fatherless and widow have free recourse to, and are taken
under the protection of, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.4 Bible:Ps.9.7" parsed="|Ps|9|4|0|0;|Ps|9|7|0|0" passage="Ps 9:4,7">Ps. ix. 4,
7</scripRef>), or of the habitation of his grace on earth; and so
it is a direction to the widows and fatherless how to apply to God;
let them go to his holy habitation, to his word and ordinances;
there they may find him and find comfort in him. (2.) When families
are to be built up he is the founder of them: <i>God sets the
solitary in families,</i> brings those into comfortable relations
that were lonely, gives those a convenient settlement that were
unsettled (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.113.9" parsed="|Ps|113|9|0|0" passage="Ps 113:9">Ps. cxiii. 9</scripRef>);
he <i>makes those dwell at home that were</i> forced to <i>seek</i>
for relief <i>abroad</i> (so Dr. Hammond), putting those that were
destitute into a way of getting their livelihood, which is a very
good way for man's charity, as it is of God's bounty.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p11">3. As a righteous God, (1.) In relieving
the oppressed. He <i>brings out those that are bound with
chains,</i> and sets those at liberty who were unjustly imprisoned
and brought into servitude. No chains can detain those whom God
will make free. (2.) In reckoning with the oppressors: <i>The
rebellious dwell in a dry land</i> and have no comfort in that
which they have got by fraud and injury. The best land will be a
dry land to those that by their rebellion have forfeited the
blessing of God, which is the juice and fatness of all our
enjoyments. The Israelites were brought out of Egypt into the
wilderness, but were there better provided for than the Egyptians
themselves, whose land, if Nilus failed them, as it sometimes did,
was a dry land.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.lxix-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.7-Ps.68.14" parsed="|Ps|68|7|68|14" passage="Ps 68:7-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.68.7-Ps.68.14">
<h4 id="Ps.lxix-p11.2">Thankful Praises to God; Mercies
Recollected.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxix-p12">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:
<i>even</i> Sinai itself <i>was moved</i> 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 <i>was</i> the company of those that published
<i>it.</i>   12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that
tarried at home divided the spoil.   13 Though ye have lien
among the pots, <i>yet shall ye be as</i> the wings of a dove
covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.   14
When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was <i>white</i> as
snow in Salmon.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p13">The psalmist here, having occasion to give
God thanks for the great things he had done for him and his people
of late, takes occasion thence to praise him for what he had done
for their fathers in the days of old. Fresh mercies should put us
in mind of former mercies and revive our grateful sense of them.
Let it never be forgotten,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p14">I. That God himself was the guide of Israel
through the wilderness; when he had brought them out of their
chains he did not leave them in the dry land, but he himself went
before them in a <i>march through the wilderness,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.7" parsed="|Ps|68|7|0|0" passage="Ps 68:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. It was not a journey, but
a march, for they went as soldiers, as an army with banners. The
Egyptians promised themselves that the wilderness had shut them in,
but they were deceived; God's Israel, having him for their leader,
marched through the wilderness and were not lost in it. Note, If
God bring his people into a wilderness, he will be sure to go
before them in it and bring them out of it. <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Song.8.5" parsed="|Song|8|5|0|0" passage="So 8:5">Cant. viii. 5</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p15">II. That he manifested his glorious
presence with them at Mount Sinai, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.8" parsed="|Ps|68|8|0|0" passage="Ps 68:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. Never did any people see the
glory of God, nor hear his voice, as Israel did, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.32-Deut.4.33" parsed="|Deut|4|32|4|33" passage="De 4:32,33">Deut. iv. 32, 33</scripRef>. Never had any people such
an excellent law given them, so expounded, so enforced. Then the
<i>earth shook,</i> and the neighbouring countries, it is likely,
felt the shock; terrible thunders there were, accompanied no doubt
with thunder-showers, in which the heavens seemed to drop; while
the divine doctrine <i>dropped as the rain,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.32.2" parsed="|Ps|32|2|0|0" passage="Ps 32:2">Deut. xxxii. 2</scripRef>. <i>Sinai itself,</i> that vast
mountain, that long ridge of mountains, <i>was moved at the
presence of God;</i> see <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.5.4-Judg.5.5 Bible:Deut.33.2 Bible:Hab.3.3" parsed="|Judg|5|4|5|5;|Deut|33|2|0|0;|Hab|3|3|0|0" passage="Jdg 5:4,5,De 33:2,Hab 3:3">Judg. v. 4, 5; Deut. xxxiii. 2; Hab.
iii. 3</scripRef>. This terrible appearance of the Divine Majesty,
as it would possess them with a fear and dread of him, so it would
encourage their faith in him and dependence upon him. Whatever
mountains of difficulty lay in the way of their happy settlement,
he that could move Sinai itself could remove them, could get over
them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p16">III. That he provided very comfortably for
them both in the wilderness and in Canaan (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.9-Ps.68.10" parsed="|Ps|68|9|68|10" passage="Ps 68:9,10"><i>v.</i> 9, 10</scripRef>): <i>Thou didst send a
plentiful rain and hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.</i>
This may refer, 1. To the victualling of their camp with manna in
the wilderness, which was rained upon them, as were also the quails
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.78.24 Bible:Ps.78.27" parsed="|Ps|78|24|0|0;|Ps|78|27|0|0" passage="Ps 78:24,27">Ps. lxxviii. 24, 27</scripRef>),
and it might be fitly called a rain of liberality or munificence,
for it was a memorable instance of the divine bounty. This
confirmed the camp of Israel (here called <i>God's inheritance,</i>
because he had chosen them to be a peculiar treasure to himself)
<i>when it was weary</i> and ready to perish: this confirmed their
faith, and was a standing proof of God's power and goodness. Even
in the wilderness God found a comfortable dwelling for Israel,
which was his congregation. Or, 2. To the seasonable supplies
granted them in Canaan, that land <i>flowing with milk and
honey,</i> which is said to <i>drink water of the rain of
heaven,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.11.11" parsed="|Deut|11|11|0|0" passage="De 11:11">Deut. xi. 11</scripRef>.
When sometimes that fruitful land was ready to be turned into
barrenness, for the iniquity of those that dwelt therein, God, in
judgment, remembered mercy, and sent them a plentiful rain, which
refreshed it again, so that the congregation of Israel dwelt
therein, and there was provision enough, even to satisfy their poor
with bread. This looks further to the spiritual provision made for
God's Israel; the Spirit of grace and the gospel of grace are the
plentiful rain with which God confirms his inheritance, and from
which their fruit is found, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.45.8" parsed="|Isa|45|8|0|0" passage="Isa 45:8">Isa. xlv.
8</scripRef>. Christ himself is this rain, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.72.6" parsed="|Ps|72|6|0|0" passage="Ps 72:6">Ps. lxxii. 6</scripRef>. <i>He shall come as showers that
water the earth.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p17">IV. That he often gave them victory over
their enemies; armies, and kings of armies, appeared against them,
from their first coming into Canaan, and all along in the times of
the judges, till David's days, but, first or last, they gained
their point against them, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.11-Ps.68.12 Bible:Ps.68.14" parsed="|Ps|68|11|68|12;|Ps|68|14|0|0" passage="Ps 68:11,12,14"><i>v.</i> 11, 12, 14</scripRef>. Observe here, 1.
That God was their commander-in-chief: <i>The Lord gave the
word,</i> as general of their armies. He raised up judges for them,
gave them their commissions and instructions, and assured them of
success. <i>God spoke in his holiness,</i> and then <i>Gilead is
mine.</i> 2. That they had prophets, as God's messengers, to make
known his mind to them. God gave them his word (<i>the word of the
Lord</i> came unto them) and then <i>great was the company of the
preachers</i>—prophets and <i>prophetesses,</i> for the word is
feminine. When God has messages to send he will not want
messengers. Or perhaps it may allude to the women's joining in the
triumph when the victory was obtained, as was usual (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.15.20 Bible:1Sam.18.7" parsed="|Exod|15|20|0|0;|1Sam|18|7|0|0" passage="Ex 15:20,1Sa 18:7">Exod. xv. 20, 1 Sam. xviii.
7</scripRef>), in which they took notice of the word of God,
triumphing in that as much as in his works. 3. That their enemies
were defeated, and put to confusion: <i>Kings of armies did
flee,</i> did flee with the greatest terror and precipitation
imaginable, did not fight and flee, but flee and flee, retired
without striking a stroke; they fled apace, fled and never rallied
again. 4. That they were enriched with the plunder of the field:
<i>She that tarried at home divided the spoil.</i> Not only the
men, the soldiers that abode by the stuff, who were, by a statute
of distributions, to share the prey (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.30.24" parsed="|1Sam|30|24|0|0" passage="1Sa 30:24">1 Sam. xxx. 24</scripRef>), but even the women that
tarried at home had a share, which intimates the abundance of spoil
that should be taken. 5. That these great things which God did for
them were sanctified to them and contributed to their reformation
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.14" parsed="|Ps|68|14|0|0" passage="Ps 68:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>): <i>When the
Almighty scattered kings for her</i> (for the church) <i>she was
white as snow in Salmon,</i> purified and refined by the mercies of
God; <i>when the host went forth against the enemy they kept
themselves from every wicked thing,</i> and so the host returned
victorious, and Israel by the victory were confirmed in their
purity and piety. This account of Israel's victories is applicable
to the victories obtained by the exalted Redeemer for those that
are his, over death and hell. By the resurrection of Christ our
spiritual enemies were made to flee, their power was broken, and
they were for ever disabled to hurt any of God's people. This
victory was first notified by the women (the she-publishers) to the
disciples (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p17.5" osisRef="Bible:Matt.28.7" parsed="|Matt|28|7|0|0" passage="Mt 28:7">Matt. xxviii. 7</scripRef>)
and by them it was preached to all the world, while believers that
tarry at home, that did not themselves contribute any thing towards
it, enjoy the benefit of it, and divide the spoil.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p18">V. That from a low and despised condition
they had been advanced to splendour and prosperity. When they were
bond-slaves in Egypt, and afterwards when they were oppressed
sometimes by one potent neighbour and sometimes by another, they
did, as it were, <i>lie among the pots</i> or rubbish, as despised
broken vessels, or as vessels in which there was no pleasure—they
were black, and dirty, and discoloured. But God, at length,
<i>delivered them from the pots</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.81.6" parsed="|Ps|81|6|0|0" passage="Ps 81:6">Ps. lxxxi. 6</scripRef>), and in David's time they were
in a fair way to be one of the most prosperous kingdoms in the
world, amiable in the eyes of all about them, <i>like the wings of
a dove covered with silver,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.13" parsed="|Ps|68|13|0|0" passage="Ps 68:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. "And so," says Dr. Hammond,
"under Christ's kingdom, the heathen idolaters that were brought to
the basest and most despicable condition of any creatures,
worshipping wood and stone, and given up to the vilest lusts,
should from that detestable condition be advanced to the service of
Christ, and the practice of all Christian virtues, the greatest
inward beauties in the world." It may be applied also to the
deliverance of the church out of a suffering state and the comforts
of particular believers after their despondencies.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.lxix-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.15-Ps.68.21" parsed="|Ps|68|15|68|21" passage="Ps 68:15-21" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.68.15-Ps.68.21">
<h4 id="Ps.lxix-p18.4">Glory of Zion; The King of
Zion.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxix-p19">15 The hill of God <i>is as</i> the hill of
Bashan; a high hill <i>as</i> the hill of Bashan.   16 Why
leap ye, ye high hills? <i>this is</i> the hill <i>which</i> God
desireth to dwell in; yea, the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxix-p19.1">Lord</span>
will dwell <i>in it</i> for ever.   17 The chariots of God
<i>are</i> twenty thousand, <i>even</i> thousands of angels: the
Lord <i>is</i> among them, <i>as in</i> Sinai, in the holy
<i>place.</i>   18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led
captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea,
<i>for</i> the rebellious also, that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxix-p19.2">Lord</span> God might dwell <i>among them.</i>  
19 Blessed <i>be</i> the Lord, <i>who</i> daily loadeth us <i>with
benefits, even</i> the God of our salvation. Selah.   20 <i>He
that is</i> our God <i>is</i> the God of salvation; and unto <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxix-p19.3">God</span> the Lord <i>belong</i> the issues from
death.   21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies,
<i>and</i> the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his
trespasses.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p20">David, having given God praise for what he
had done for Israel in general, as the God of Israel (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.8" parsed="|Ps|68|8|0|0" passage="Ps 68:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), here comes to give him
praise as Zion's God in a special manner; compare <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.11" parsed="|Ps|9|11|0|0" passage="Ps 9:11">Ps. ix. 11</scripRef>. <i>Sing praises to the
Lord who dwelleth in Zion,</i> for which reason Zion is called
<i>the hill of God.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p21">I. He compares it with the hill of Bashan
and other high and fruitful hills, and prefers it before them,
<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.15-Ps.68.16" parsed="|Ps|68|15|68|16" passage="Ps 68:15,16"><i>v.</i> 15, 16</scripRef>. It is
true, Zion was but little and low in comparison with them, and was
not covered over with flocks and herds as they were, yet, upon this
account, it has the pre-eminence above them all, that it is <i>the
hill of God,</i> the hill <i>which he desires to dwell in,</i> and
where he chooses to manifest the tokens of his peculiar presence,
<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.13-Ps.132.14" parsed="|Ps|132|13|132|14" passage="Ps 132:13,14">Ps. cxxxii. 13, 14</scripRef>.
Note, It is much more honourable to be holy to God than to be high
and great in the world. "<i>Why leap you, you high hills?</i> Why
do you insult over poor Zion, and boast of your own height? This is
the hill which God has chosen, and therefore though you exceed it
in bulk, and be first-rates, yet, because on this the royal flag is
hoisted, you must all strike sail to it." Zion was especially
honourable because it was a type of the gospel church, which is
therefore called Mount Zion (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.22" parsed="|Heb|12|22|0|0" passage="Heb 12:22">Heb.
xii. 22</scripRef>), and this is intimated here, when he said,
<i>The Lord will dwell in it for ever,</i> which must have its
accomplishment in the gospel Zion. There is no kingdom in the world
comparable to the kingdom of the Redeemer, no city comparable to
that which is incorporated by the gospel charter, for there God
dwells and will dwell for ever.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p22">II. He compares it with Mount Sinai, of
which he had spoken (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.8" parsed="|Ps|68|8|0|0" passage="Ps 68:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>), and shows that it has the Shechinah or divine
presence in it as really, though not as sensibly, as Sinai itself
had, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.17" parsed="|Ps|68|17|0|0" passage="Ps 68:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. Angels
are <i>the chariots of God,</i> his chariots of war, which he make
use of against his enemies, his chariots of conveyance, which he
sends for his friends, as he did for Elijah (and Lazarus is said to
be carried by the angels), his chariots of state, in the midst of
which he shows his glory and power. They are vastly numerous:
<i>Twenty thousands,</i> even thousands multiplied. There is an
<i>innumerable company of angels</i> in the heavenly Jerusalem,
<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.22" parsed="|Heb|12|22|0|0" passage="Heb 12:22">Heb. xii. 22</scripRef>. The enemies
David fought with had chariots (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p22.4" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.8.4" parsed="|2Sam|8|4|0|0" passage="2Sa 8:4">2 Sam.
viii. 4</scripRef>), but what were they, for number or strength, to
the chariots of God? While David had these on his side he needed
not to fear those that trusted in <i>chariots and horses,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p22.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.20.7" parsed="|Ps|20|7|0|0" passage="Ps 20:7">Ps. xx. 7</scripRef>. God appeared on
Mount Sinai, attended with myriads of angels, by whose dispensation
the law was given, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p22.6" osisRef="Bible:Acts.7.53" parsed="|Acts|7|53|0|0" passage="Ac 7:53">Acts vii.
53</scripRef>. <i>He comes with ten thousands of saints,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p22.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.33.2" parsed="|Deut|33|2|0|0" passage="De 33:2">Deut. xxxiii. 2</scripRef>. And still
in Zion God manifests his glory, and is really present, with a
numerous retinue of his heavenly hosts, signified by the cherubim
between which God is said <i>to dwell.</i> So that, as some read
the last words of the verse, <i>Sinai is in the sanctuary;</i> that
is, the sanctuary was to Israel instead of Mount Sinai, whence they
received divine oracles. Our Lord Jesus has these chariots at
command. When the first-begotten was brought in to the world it was
with this charge, <i>Let all the angels of God worship him</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p22.8" osisRef="Bible:Heb.1.6" parsed="|Heb|1|6|0|0" passage="Heb 1:6">Heb. i. 6</scripRef>); they attended
him upon all occasions, and he is now among them, <i>angels,
principalities, and powers, being made subject to him,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p22.9" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.3.22" parsed="|1Pet|3|22|0|0" passage="1Pe 3:22">1 Pet. iii. 22</scripRef>. And it is
intimated in the New Testament that the angels are present in the
solemn religious assemblies of Christians, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p22.10" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.11.10" parsed="|1Cor|11|10|0|0" passage="1Co 11:10">1 Cor. xi. 10</scripRef>. Let the woman have a veil on
her head <i>because of the angels;</i> and see <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p22.11" osisRef="Bible:Eph.3.10" parsed="|Eph|3|10|0|0" passage="Eph 3:10">Eph. iii. 10</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p23">III. The glory of Mount Zion was the King
whom God <i>set on that holy hill</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.6" parsed="|Ps|2|6|0|0" passage="Ps 2:6">Ps. ii. 6</scripRef>), who <i>came to the daughter of
Zion,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.21.5" parsed="|Matt|21|5|0|0" passage="Mt 21:5">Matt. xxi. 5</scripRef>. Of
his ascension the psalmist here speaks, and to it his language is
expressly applied (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p23.3" osisRef="Bible:Eph.4.8" parsed="|Eph|4|8|0|0" passage="Eph 4:8">Eph. iv.
8</scripRef>): <i>Thou hast ascended on high</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p23.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.18" parsed="|Ps|68|18|0|0" passage="Ps 68:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>); compare <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p23.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.47.5-Ps.47.6" parsed="|Ps|47|5|47|6" passage="Ps 47:5,6">Ps. xlvii. 5, 6</scripRef>. Christ's ascending
on high is here spoken of as a thing past, so sure was it; and
spoken of to his honour, so great was it. It may include his whole
exalted state, but points especially at his ascension into heaven
to the right hand of the Father, which was as much our advantage as
his advancement. For, 1. He then triumphed over the gates of hell.
He led <i>captivity captive;</i> that is, he led his captives in
triumph, as great conquerors used to do, <i>making a show of them
openly,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p23.6" osisRef="Bible:Col.2.15" parsed="|Col|2|15|0|0" passage="Col 2:15">Col. ii. 15</scripRef>. He
led those captive who had led us captive, and who, if he had not
interposed, would have held us captive for ever. Nay, he <i>led
captivity itself captive,</i> having quite broken the power of sin
and Satan. As he was the death of death, so he was the captivity of
captivity, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p23.7" osisRef="Bible:Hos.13.14" parsed="|Hos|13|14|0|0" passage="Ho 13:14">Hos. xiii. 14</scripRef>.
This intimates the complete victory which Jesus Christ obtained
over our spiritual enemies; it was such that through him <i>we also
are more than conquerors,</i> that is, triumphers, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p23.8" osisRef="Bible:Rom.8.37" parsed="|Rom|8|37|0|0" passage="Ro 8:37">Rom. viii. 37</scripRef>. 2. He then opened the
gates of heaven to all believers: <i>Thou hast received gifts for
men.</i> He <i>gave gifts to men,</i> so the apostle reads it,
<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p23.9" osisRef="Bible:Eph.4.8" parsed="|Eph|4|8|0|0" passage="Eph 4:8">Eph. iv. 8</scripRef>. For he received
that he might give; on his head the anointing of the Spirit was
poured, that from him it might descend to the skirts of his
garments. And he gave what he had received; having received power
to give eternal life, he bestows it upon <i>as many as were given
him,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p23.10" osisRef="Bible:John.17.2" parsed="|John|17|2|0|0" passage="John 17:2">John xvii. 2</scripRef>.
<i>Thou hast received gifts for men,</i> not for angels; fallen
angels were not to be made saints, nor standing angels made gospel
ministers, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p23.11" osisRef="Bible:Heb.2.5" parsed="|Heb|2|5|0|0" passage="Heb 2:5">Heb. ii. 5</scripRef>. Not
for Jews only, but for all men; whoever will may reap the benefit
of these gifts. The apostle tells us what these gifts were
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p23.12" osisRef="Bible:Eph.4.11" parsed="|Eph|4|11|0|0" passage="Eph 4:11">Eph. iv. 11</scripRef>), <i>prophets,
apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers,</i> the institution of
a gospel ministry and the qualification of men for it, both which
are to be valued as the gifts of heaven and the fruits of Christ's
ascension. <i>Thou hast received gifts in man</i> (so the margin),
that is, in the human nature which Christ was pleased to clothe
himself with, that he might be a <i>merciful and faithful high
priest in things pertaining to God.</i> In him, as Mediator, <i>all
fulness dwells,</i> that <i>from his fulness we might receive.</i>
To magnify the kindness and love of Christ to us in receiving these
gifts for us, the psalmist observes, (1.) The forfeiture we had
made of them. He received them for the <i>rebellious also,</i> for
those that had been rebellious; so all the children of men had been
in their fallen state. Perhaps it is especially meant of the
Gentiles, that had been <i>enemies in their minds by wicked
works,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p23.13" osisRef="Bible:Col.1.21" parsed="|Col|1|21|0|0" passage="Col 1:21">Col. i. 21</scripRef>. For
them these gifts are received, to them they are given, that they
might lay down their arms, that their enmity might be slain, and
that they might return to their allegiance. This magnifies the
grace of Christ exceedingly that through him rebels are, upon their
submission, not only pardoned, but preferred. They have commissions
given them under Christ, which some say, in our law, amounts to the
reversing of an attainder. Christ came to a rebellious world, not
to condemn it, but that through him it might be saved. (2.) The
favour designed us in them: He <i>received gifts for the
rebellious,</i> that <i>the Lord God might dwell among them,</i>
that he might set up a church in a rebellious world, in which he
would dwell by his word and ordinances, as of old in the sanctuary,
that he might set up his throne, and Christ might dwell in the
hearts of particular persons that had been rebellious. The gracious
intention of Christ's undertaking was to rear up the <i>tabernacle
of God among men,</i> that he might dwell with them and they might
themselves be living temples to his praise, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p23.14" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.37.27" parsed="|Ezek|37|27|0|0" passage="Eze 37:27">Ezek. xxxvii. 27</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p24">IV. The glory of Zion's King is that he is
a Saviour and benefactor to all his willing people and a consuming
fire to all those that persist in rebellion against him, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.19-Ps.68.21" parsed="|Ps|68|19|68|21" passage="Ps 68:19-21"><i>v.</i> 19-21</scripRef>. We have here good
and evil, life and death, the blessing and the curse, set before
us, like that (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:Mark.16.16" parsed="|Mark|16|16|0|0" passage="Mk 16:16">Mark xvi.
16</scripRef>), <i>He that believes shall be saved; he that
believes not shall be damned.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p25">1. Those that take God for their God, and
so give up themselves to him to be his people, shall be loaded with
his benefits, and to them he will be a God of salvation. If in
sincerity we avouch God to be our God, and seek to him as such,
(1.) He will continually do us good and furnish us with occasion
for praise. Having mentioned the gifts Christ received for us
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.18" parsed="|Ps|68|18|0|0" passage="Ps 68:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), fitly does
he subjoin, in the next words, <i>Blessed be the Lord;</i> for it
is owing to the mediation of Christ that we live, and live
comfortably, and are daily loaded with benefits. So many, so
weighty, are the gifts of God's bounty to us that he may be truly
said to <i>load us</i> with them; he <i>pours out blessings till
there is no room to receive them,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p25.2" osisRef="Bible:Mal.3.10" parsed="|Mal|3|10|0|0" passage="Mal 3:10">Mal. iii. 10</scripRef>. So constant are they, and so
unwearied is he in doing us good, that he <i>daily</i> loads us
with them, according as the necessity of every day requires. (2.)
He will at length be unto us the God of salvation, of everlasting
salvation, the <i>salvation of God,</i> which he will <i>show to
those that order their conversation aright</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p25.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.50.23" parsed="|Ps|50|23|0|0" passage="Ps 50:23">Ps. l. 23</scripRef>), the salvation of the soul. He
that <i>daily loads us with benefits</i> will not put us off with
present things for a portion, but will be the God of our salvation;
and what he gives us now he gives as the God of salvation, pursuant
to the great design of our salvation. <i>He is our God,</i> and
therefore he will be the God of eternal salvation to us; for that
only will answer the vast extent of his covenant-relation to us as
our God. But has he power to complete this salvation? Yes,
certainly; <i>for unto God the Lord belong the issues from
death.</i> The keys of hell and death are put into the hand of the
Lord Jesus, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p25.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.1.18" parsed="|Rev|1|18|0|0" passage="Re 1:18">Rev. i. 18</scripRef>. He,
having made an escape from death himself in his resurrection, has
both authority and power to rescue those that are his from the
dominion of death, by altering the property of it to them when they
die and giving them a complete victory over it when they shall rise
again; for <i>the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.</i>
And to those that shall thus for ever escape death, and shall find
such an outlet from it as not to be hurt of the second death, to
them surely deliverances from temporal death are mercies indeed and
come from God as the God of their salvation. <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p25.5" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.1.10" parsed="|2Cor|1|10|0|0" passage="2Co 1:10">2 Cor. i. 10</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p26">2. Those that persist in their enmity to
him will certainly be ruined (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.21" parsed="|Ps|68|21|0|0" passage="Ps 68:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>): <i>God shall wound the head of
his enemies,</i>—of Satan the old serpent (of whom it was by the
first promise foretold that <i>the seed of the woman</i> should
<i>break his head,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.3.15" parsed="|Gen|3|15|0|0" passage="Ge 3:15">Gen. iii.
15</scripRef>),—of all the powers of the nations, whether Jews or
Gentiles, that oppose him and his kingdom among men (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p26.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.6" parsed="|Ps|110|6|0|0" passage="Ps 110:6">Ps. cx. 6</scripRef>, <i>He shall wound the
heads over many countries</i>),—of all those, whoever they are,
that will <i>not have him to reign over them,</i> for those he
accounts his enemies, and they shall be <i>brought forth</i> and
<i>slain before him,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p26.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.19.27" parsed="|Luke|19|27|0|0" passage="Lu 19:27">Luke xix.
27</scripRef>. He will <i>wound the hairy scalp of such a one as
goeth on still in his trespasses.</i> Note, Those who go on still
in their trespasses, and hate to be reformed, God looks upon as his
enemies and will treat them accordingly. In calling the head <i>the
hairy scalp</i> perhaps there is an allusion to Absalom, whose
bushy hair was his halter. Or it denotes either the most fierce and
barbarous of his enemies, who let their hair grow, to make
themselves look the more frightful, or the most fine and delicate
of his enemies, who are nice about their hair: neither the one nor
the other can secure themselves from the fatal wounds which divine
justice will give to the heads of those that go on in their
sins.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.lxix-p26.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.22-Ps.68.31" parsed="|Ps|68|22|68|31" passage="Ps 68:22-31" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.68.22-Ps.68.31">
<h4 id="Ps.lxix-p26.6">Redemption of God's People; Duties Enforced
by the Discoveries of Grace.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxix-p27">22 The Lord said, I will bring again from
Bashan, I will bring <i>my people</i> again from the depths of the
sea:   23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of
<i>thine</i> enemies, <i>and</i> the tongue of thy dogs in the
same.   24 They have seen thy goings, O God; <i>even</i> the
goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.   25 The singers
went before, the players on instruments <i>followed</i> after;
among <i>them were</i> the damsels playing with timbrels.   26
Bless ye God in the congregations, <i>even</i> the Lord, from the
fountain of Israel.   27 There <i>is</i> little Benjamin
<i>with</i> their ruler, the princes of Judah <i>and</i> their
council, the princes of Zebulun, <i>and</i> 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, <i>till every one</i>
submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people
<i>that</i> delight in war.   31 Princes shall come out of
Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p28">In these verses we have three things:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p29">I. The gracious promise which God makes of
the redemption of his people, and their victory over his and their
enemies (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p29.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.22-Ps.68.23" parsed="|Ps|68|22|68|23" passage="Ps 68:22,23"><i>v.</i> 22,
23</scripRef>): <i>The Lord said,</i> in his own gracious purpose
and promise, "I will do great things for my people, as the God of
their salvation," <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p29.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.20" parsed="|Ps|68|20|0|0" passage="Ps 68:20"><i>v.</i>
20</scripRef>. God will not fail the expectations of those who by
faith take him for their God. It is promised, 1. That he will set
them in safety from their danger, as he had done formerly: "I will
<i>again bring them from the depths of the sea,"</i> as he did
Israel when he brought them out of the slavery of Egypt into the
ease and liberty of the wilderness; "and <i>I will again bring them
from Bashan,</i>" as he did Israel when he brought them from their
wants and wanderings in the wilderness into the fulness and
settlement of the land of Canaan; for the land of Bashan was on the
other side Jordan, where they had wars with Sihon and Og, and
whence their next removal was into Canaan. Note, The former
appearances of God's power and goodness for his people should
encourage their faith and hope in him for the future, that what he
has done he will do again. He will <i>set his hand again the second
time to recover the remnant of his people</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p29.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.11.11" parsed="|Isa|11|11|0|0" passage="Isa 11:11">Isa. xi. 11</scripRef>); and we may perhaps see
repeated <i>all the wonders which our fathers told us of.</i> But
this is not all: 2. That he will make them victorious over their
enemies (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p29.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.23" parsed="|Ps|68|23|0|0" passage="Ps 68:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>):
<i>That thy feet may be dipped,</i> as thou passest along, <i>in
the blood of thy enemies,</i> shed like water in great abundance,
and the <i>tongue of thy dogs</i> may lap <i>in the same.</i> Dogs
licked the blood of Ahab; and, in the destruction of the
anti-christian generation, we read of blood up <i>to the horses'
bridles,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p29.5" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.20" parsed="|Rev|14|20|0|0" passage="Re 14:20">Rev. xiv. 20</scripRef>.
The victories with which God blessed David's forces over the
enemies of Israel are here prophesied of, but as types of Christ's
victory over death and the grave for himself and for all believers,
in his resurrection (and theirs by virtue of his) out of the earth,
and of the destruction of the enemies of Christ and his church, who
shall have blood given them to drink, for they are worthy.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p30">II. The welcome entertainment which God's
own people shall give to these glorious discoveries of his grace,
both in his word and in his works. Has he spoken in his holiness?
Has he said he will <i>bring again from Bashan?</i> What then is
required of us in return to this?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p31">1. That we observe his motions (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p31.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.24" parsed="|Ps|68|24|0|0" passage="Ps 68:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>): "<i>They have
seen,</i> thy people have seen, <i>thy goings, O God!</i> While
others regard not the work of the Lord, nor the operation of his
hands, they have seen <i>the goings of my God, my King, in the
sanctuary.</i>" See here, (1.) How an active faith appropriates
God; he is God and King; but that is not all, he is <i>my</i> God
and <i>my</i> King. Those who thus take him for theirs may see him,
in all his outgoings, acting as their God, as their King, for their
good, and in answer to their prayers. (2.) Where God's most
remarkable outgoings are, even in the sanctuary, in and by his word
and ordinances, and among his people in the gospel church
especially, in and by which is made known the manifold wisdom of
God. These outgoings of his <i>in the sanctuary</i> far outshine
the outgoings of the morning and the evening, and more loudly
proclaim his eternal power and godhead. (3.) What is our duty in
reference to these outgoings, which is to observe them. <i>This is
the finger of God. Surely God is with us of a truth.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p32">2. That we give him glory in the most
devout and solemn manner. When we see <i>his goings in his
sanctuary,</i> (1.) Let those that are immediately employed in the
service of the temple praise him, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p32.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.25" parsed="|Ps|68|25|0|0" passage="Ps 68:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>. It was expected that the
Levites, some of whom were singers and others players on
instruments, who had the nearest views of his <i>outgoings in his
sanctuary,</i> should lead in his praises. And, it being a day of
extraordinary triumph, <i>among them were damsels playing with
timbrels,</i> to complete the concert. "Thus (says Dr. Hammond)
when Christ has gone up to heaven the apostles shall celebrate and
publish it to all the world, and even the women that were witnesses
of it shall affectionately join with them in divulging it." (2.)
Let all the people of Israel in their solemn religious assembly
give glory to God: <i>Bless God,</i> not only in temples, but in
the synagogues, or schools of the prophets, or wherever there is a
congregation of those that <i>come forth from the fountain of
Israel,</i> that are of the seed of Jacob, let them concur in
blessing God. Public mercies, which we jointly share in, call for
public thanksgivings, which all should join in. "Thus (says Dr.
Hammond) all Christians shall be obliged solemnly to magnify the
name of the Messiah, and, to that end, frequently to assemble
together in congregations." And, (3.) Let those among them who,
upon any account, are the most eminent, and make a figure, go
before the rest in praising God, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p32.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.27" parsed="|Ps|68|27|0|0" passage="Ps 68:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>. There was <i>little
Benjamin</i> (that was the royal tribe in Saul's time) <i>with
their rulers, the princes of Judah</i> (that was the royal tribe in
David's time), and <i>their council,</i> their captains or leaders.
In the beginning of David's reign there had been long war between
Judah and Benjamin, but now they both join in praises for success
against the common enemy. But why are the tribes of Zebulun and
Naphtali particularly mentioned? Perhaps because those tribes,
lying towards the north, lay most exposed to the incursions of the
Syrians, and other neighbours that molested them, and therefore
should be in a particular manner thankful for these victories over
them. Dr. Hammond gives another reason, That these were the two
learned tribes. <i>Naphtali giveth goodly words</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p32.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.49.21" parsed="|Gen|49|21|0|0" passage="Ge 49:21">Gen. xlix. 21</scripRef>) and Zebulun had those
that <i>handle the pen of the writer,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p32.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.5.14" parsed="|Judg|5|14|0|0" passage="Jdg 5:14">Judg. v. 14</scripRef>. These shall join in praising
God, their princes especially. It is much for the honour of God
when those that are above others in dignity, power, and reputation,
go before them in the worship of God and are forward in using their
influence and interest for the advancing of any service that is to
be done to him. Dr. Hammond notes hence that the kingdom of the
Messiah should, at length, be submitted to by all the potentates
and learned men in the world.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p33">3. That we seek unto him, and depend upon
him, for the perfecting of what he has begun, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p33.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.28" parsed="|Ps|68|28|0|0" passage="Ps 68:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>. In the former part of the verse
the psalmist speaks to Israel: "<i>Thy God has commanded thy
strength;</i> that is, whatever is done for thee, or whatever
strength thou hast to help thyself, it comes from God, his power
and grace, and the word which he has commanded; thou hast no reason
to fear while thou hast strength of God's commanding, and no reason
to boast while thou hast no strength but what is of his
commanding." In the latter part he speaks to God, encouraged by his
experiences: "<i>Strengthen, O God! that which thou hast wrought
for us.</i> Lord, confirm what thou hast commanded, perform what
thou hast promised, and bring to a happy end that good work which
thou hast so gloriously begun." What God has wrought he will
strengthen; where he has given true grace he will give more grace.
Some make this whole verse to be a believer's address to the
Messiah, whom David calls <i>God,</i> as he had done, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p33.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.6 Bible:Ps.45.8" parsed="|Ps|45|6|0|0;|Ps|45|8|0|0" passage="Ps 45:6,8">Ps. xlv. 6, 8</scripRef>. "<i>Thy God</i>" (God
the Father) "<i>has commanded thy strength,</i> has made thee
strong for himself, as the <i>man of his right hand</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p33.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.17" parsed="|Ps|80|17|0|0" passage="Ps 80:17">Ps. lxxx. 17</scripRef>), has treasured up
strength in thee for us; therefore we pray that thou, <i>O God</i>
the Son! wilt <i>strengthen what thou hast wrought for us,</i> wilt
accomplish thy undertaking for us by finishing thy good work in
us."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p34">III. The powerful invitation and inducement
which would hereby be given to those that are without to come in
and join themselves to the church, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p34.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.29-Ps.68.31" parsed="|Ps|68|29|68|31" passage="Ps 68:29-31"><i>v.</i> 29-31</scripRef>. This was in part
fulfilled by the accession of many proselytes to the Jewish
religion in the days of David and Solomon; but it was to have its
full accomplishment in the conversion of the Gentile nations to the
faith of Christ, and the making of them fellow-heirs, and of the
same body, with the seed of Israel, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p34.2" osisRef="Bible:Eph.3.6" parsed="|Eph|3|6|0|0" passage="Eph 3:6">Eph. iii. 6</scripRef>. 1. Some shall submit for fear
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p34.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.30" parsed="|Ps|68|30|0|0" passage="Ps 68:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>): "<i>The
company of spearmen,</i> that stand it out against Christ and his
gospel, that are not willing to be ruled by him, that persecute the
preachers and professors of his name, that are furious and
outrageous as a multitude of bulls, fat and wanton as the calves of
the people" (which is a description of those Jews and Gentiles that
opposed the gospel of Christ and did what they could to prevent the
setting up of his kingdom in the world), "Lord, rebuke them, abate
their pride, assuage their malice, and confound their devices,
till, conquered by the convictions of their consciences and the
many checks of providence, they be every one of them brought, at
length, to <i>submit themselves with pieces of silver,</i> as being
glad to make their peace with the church upon any terms." Even
Judas submitted himself with pieces of silver when he returned them
with this confession, <i>I have betrayed innocent blood.</i> And
see <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p34.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.3.9" parsed="|Rev|3|9|0|0" passage="Re 3:9">Rev. iii. 9</scripRef>. Many, by
being rebuked, have been happily saved from being ruined. But as
for those that will not submit, notwithstanding these rebukes, he
prays for their dispersion, which amounts to a prophecy of it:
<i>Scatter thou the people that delight in war,</i> who take such a
pleasure in opposing Christ that they will never be reconciled to
him. This may refer to the unbelieving Jews, who delighted in
making war upon the holy seed, and would not submit themselves, and
were therefore scattered over the face of the earth. David had
himself been a man of war, but could appeal to God that he never
delighted in war and bloodshed for its own sake; as for those that
did, and therefore would not submit to the fairest terms of peace,
he does not doubt but God would scatter them. Those are lost to all
the sacred principles of humanity, as well as Christianity, that
can delight in war and take a pleasure in contention let them
expect that, sooner or later, they shall have enough of it,
<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p34.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.33.1 Bible:Rev.13.10" parsed="|Isa|33|1|0|0;|Rev|13|10|0|0" passage="Isa 33:1,Re 13:10">Isa. xxxiii. 1; Rev. xiii.
10</scripRef>. 2. Others shall submit willingly (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p34.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.29 Bible:Ps.68.31" parsed="|Ps|68|29|0|0;|Ps|68|31|0|0" passage="Ps 68:29,31"><i>v.</i> 29, 31</scripRef>): <i>Because of thy
temple at Jerusalem</i> (this David speaks of in faith, for the
temple of Jerusalem was not built in his time, only the materials
and model were prepared) <i>kings shall bring presents unto
thee;</i> rich presents shall be brought, such as are fit for kings
to bring; even kings themselves, that stand much upon the
punctilios of honour and prerogative, shall court the favour of
Christ at a great expense. There is that in God's temple, that
beauty and benefit in the service of God and in communion with him,
and in the gospel of Christ which went forth from Jerusalem, that
is enough to invite kings themselves to bring presents to God, to
present themselves to him as living sacrifices, and with themselves
the best performances. He mentions <i>Egypt</i> and
<i>Ethiopia,</i> two countries out of which subjects and suppliants
were least to be expected (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p34.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.31" parsed="|Ps|68|31|0|0" passage="Ps 68:31"><i>v.</i>
31</scripRef>): <i>Princes shall come out of Egypt</i> as
ambassadors to seek God's favour and submit to him; and they shall
be accepted, for <i>the Lord of hosts shall</i> thereupon <i>bless
them, saying, Blessed by Egypt my people,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p34.8" osisRef="Bible:Isa.19.25" parsed="|Isa|19|25|0|0" passage="Isa 19:25">Isa. xix. 25</scripRef>. Even Ethiopia, that had
stretched out her hands against God's Israel (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p34.9" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.9" parsed="|2Chr|14|9|0|0" passage="2Ch 14:9">2 Chron. xiv. 9</scripRef>), should now <i>stretch out
her hands unto God,</i> in prayer, in presents, and to take hold on
him, and that soon. <i>Agree with thy adversary quickly.</i> Out of
all nations some shall be gathered in to Christ and be owned by
him.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.lxix-p34.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.32-Ps.68.35" parsed="|Ps|68|32|68|35" passage="Ps 68:32-35" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.68.32-Ps.68.35">
<h4 id="Ps.lxix-p34.11">Praise to God for His Sovereign
Dominion.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxix-p35">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, <i>which were</i> of old; lo, he doth
send out his voice, <i>and that</i> a mighty voice.   34
Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency <i>is</i> over Israel,
and his strength <i>is</i> in the clouds.   35 O God, <i>thou
art</i> terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel
<i>is</i> he that giveth strength and power unto <i>his</i> people.
Blessed <i>be</i> God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p36">The psalmist, having prayed for and
prophesied of the conversion of the Gentiles, here invites them to
come in and join with the devout Israelites in praising God,
intimating that their accession to the church would be the matter
of their joy and praise (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p36.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.32" parsed="|Ps|68|32|0|0" passage="Ps 68:32"><i>v.</i>
32</scripRef>): Let the <i>kingdoms of the earth sing praises to
the Lord;</i> they all ought to do it, and, when they become the
kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ, they will do it. God is
here proposed to them as the proper object of praise upon several
accounts:</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p37">I. Because of his supreme and sovereign
dominion: <i>He rides upon the heavens of heavens which were of
old</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p37.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.33" parsed="|Ps|68|33|0|0" passage="Ps 68:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>);
compare <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p37.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.4" parsed="|Ps|68|4|0|0" passage="Ps 68:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. He has
from the beginning, nay from before all time, prepared his throne;
he sits on the circuit of heaven, guides all the motions of the
heavenly bodies; and from the highest heavens, which are the
residence of his glory, he dispenses the influences of his power
and goodness to this lower world.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p38">II. Because of his awful and terrible
majesty: <i>He sends out his voice, and that a mighty voice.</i>
This may refer either generally to the thunder, which is called
<i>the voice of the Lord</i> and is said to be <i>powerful and full
of majesty</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p38.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.29.3" parsed="|Ps|29|3|0|0" passage="Ps 29:3">Ps. xxix. 3,
4</scripRef>), or in particular to that thunder in which God spoke
to Israel at Mount Sinai.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p39">III. Because of his mighty power:
<i>Ascribe you strength unto God</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p39.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.34" parsed="|Ps|68|34|0|0" passage="Ps 68:34"><i>v.</i> 34</scripRef>); acknowledge him to be a God of
such irresistible power that it is folly to contend with him and
wisdom to submit to him; acknowledge that he has power sufficient
both to protect his faithful subjects and to destroy his stubborn
adversaries; and give him the glory of all the instances of his
omnipotence. <i>Thine is the kingdom and power,</i> and therefore
<i>thine is the glory.</i> We must acknowledge his power, 1. In the
kingdom of grace: <i>His excellency is over Israel;</i> he shows
his sovereign care in protecting and governing his church; that is
the excellency of his power, which is employed for the good of his
people. 2. In the kingdom of providence: <i>His strength is in the
clouds,</i> whence comes the thunder of his power, the <i>small
rain, and the great rain of his strength.</i> Though God has his
strength in the clouds, yet he condescends to gather his Israel
under the shadow of his wings, <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p39.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.33.26" parsed="|Deut|33|26|0|0" passage="De 33:26">Deut.
xxxiii. 26</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p40">IV. Because of the glory of his sanctuary
and the wonders wrought there (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p40.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.35" parsed="|Ps|68|35|0|0" passage="Ps 68:35"><i>v.</i> 35</scripRef>): <i>O God! thou art terrible
out of thy holy places.</i> God is to be admired and adored with
reverence and godly fear by all those that attend him in his holy
places, that receive his oracles, that observe his operations
according to them, and that pay their homage to him. He displays
that out of his holy places which declares aloud that he will be
sanctified in those that come nigh unto him. Out of heaven, his
holy place above, he does, and will, show himself a terrible God.
Nor is any attribute of God more dreadful to sinners than his
holiness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxix-p41">V. Because of the grace bestowed upon his
people: <i>The God of Israel is he that gives strength and power
unto his people,</i> which the gods of the nations, that were
vanity and a lie, could not give to their worshippers; how should
they help them, when they could not help themselves? All Israel's
strength against their enemies came from God; they owned they had
<i>no might of their own,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p41.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.20.12" parsed="|2Chr|20|12|0|0" passage="2Ch 20:12">2
Chron. xx. 12</scripRef>. And all our sufficiency for our spiritual
work and warfare is from the grace of God. It is through Christ
strengthening us that we can do all things, and not otherwise; and
therefore he must have the glory of all we do (<scripRef id="Ps.lxix-p41.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.115.1" parsed="|Ps|115|1|0|0" passage="Ps 115:1">Ps. cxv. 1</scripRef>) and our humble thanks for
enabling us to do it and accepting the work of his own hands in us.
If it be the God of Israel that vies strength and power unto his
people, they ought to say, <i>Blessed be God.</i> If all be from
him, let all be to him.</p>
</div></div2>