Psalms 68: Let God Arise
A triumphant procession psalm celebrating the God who scatters his enemies, fathers the fatherless, ascends on high, and daily bears his people's burdens.
Psalms 68 (WEB)
1 Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts 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. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to Yah, his name! Rejoice before him!
5 A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
6 God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
7 God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... Selah.
8 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.
9 You, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance, when it was weary.
10 Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.
11 The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company.
12 “Kings of armies flee! They flee!” She who waits at home divides the plunder,
13 while you sleep among the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon.
15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged.
16 Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, Yahweh will dwell there forever.
17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary.
18 You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among men, yes, among the rebellious also, that Yah God might dwell there.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. Selah.
20 God is to us a God of deliverance. To Yahweh, the Lord, belongs escape from death.
21 But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea;
23 That you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”
24 They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25 The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, in the midst of the ladies playing with tambourines,
26 “Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!”
27 There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
28 Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents to you.
30 Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Being humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations that delight in war.
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord! Selah.
33 To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies.
35 You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!
Psalms 68 (KJV)
1 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.
Psalms 68 (ASV)
1 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 exult before God: Yea, let them rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: Cast up a highway for him that rideth through the deserts; His name is Jehovah; and exult ye 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 the prisoners into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, When thou didst march through the wilderness; [Selah
8 The earth trembled, The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God: Yon Sinai trembled at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, Thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10 Thy congregation dwelt therein: Thou, O God, didst prepare of thy goodness for the poor.
11 The Lord giveth the word: The women that publish the tidings are a great host.
12 Kings of armies flee, they flee; And she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.
13 When ye lie among the sheepfolds, It is asthe wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings therein, It was as whenit snoweth in Zalmon.
15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; A high mountain is the mountain of Bashan.
16 Why look ye askance, ye high mountains, At the mountain which God hath desired for his abode? Yea, Jehovah will dwell in it for ever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands: The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the sanctuary.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led away captives; Thou hast received gifts among men, Yea, among the rebellious also, that Jehovah God might dwell with them.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily beareth our burden, Even the God who is our salvation. [Selah
20 God is unto us a God of deliverances; And unto Jehovah the Lord belongeth escape from death.
21 But God will smite through the head of his enemies, The hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his guiltiness.
22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bringthem again from the depths of the sea;
23 That thou mayest crush them, dipping thy foot in blood, That the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from thine enemies.
24 They have seen thy goings, O God, Even the goings of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25 The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, In the midst of the damsels playing with timbrels.
26 Bless ye God in the congregations, Even the Lord, ye that are of the fountain of Israel.
27 There is little Benjamin their ruler, The princes of Judah and their council, The princes of Zebulun, 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 Kings shall bring presents unto thee.
30 Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, The multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples, Trampling under foot the pieces of silver: He hath scattered the peoples that delight in war.
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste to stretch out her hands unto God.
32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; Oh sing praises unto the Lord; [Selah
33 To him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens, which are of old; Lo, he uttereth his voice, a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: His excellency is over Israel, And his strength is in the skies.
35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: The God of Israel, he giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.
Summary
This grand and difficult psalm celebrates God as a victorious King marching at the head of his people. It opens with a cry borrowed from the wilderness, "Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered!" and pictures the wicked melting like wax before him while the righteous rejoice. The God who rides on the clouds is also tender: a father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, who sets the lonely in families and frees prisoners. The psalm recounts God's march from Sinai, his gift of rain, and his victories that send kings fleeing. A great procession ascends to the sanctuary on Mount Zion, with God enthroned among tens of thousands of chariots. Verse 18 declares, "You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among men"—words the New Testament applies to the ascension of Christ, who gives gifts to his church. The psalm blesses the Lord who "daily bears our burdens," the God of deliverance who holds the keys of escape from death, and it ends summoning the kingdoms of the earth to sing praises to the awesome God of Israel whose strength is in the skies.
Voices
- The psalmist (David) — The worshiper leading a triumphant procession that celebrates God's victories and care for the weak.
- God — The rider on the clouds, father of the fatherless, victorious King who ascends on high and daily bears his people's burdens.
- God's enemies — The wicked who are scattered, who melt like wax, and whose kings flee before the advancing Lord.
- The kingdoms of the earth — The nations summoned to bring gifts and sing praises to the God of Israel.
Key Verse
Psalm 68:19 (WEB)
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. Selah.
Lessons Learned
- When God arises, no enemy can finally stand against him or his people.
- The mighty God who rides on the clouds is also the tender father of the fatherless and defender of widows.
- God daily bears our burdens; his care is not occasional but constant.
- God's ascension in triumph leads to gifts poured out among his people, fulfilled in the risen Christ.
- God's rising scatters all opposition. "Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered!" (Psalm 68:1, WEB); the same God who led Israel through the wilderness still routs the powers that oppose him.
- God defends the defenseless. He is "a father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows" who "sets the lonely in families" (Psalm 68:5-6, WEB); his strength is bent toward the weak.
- God carries us every day. "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens" (Psalm 68:19, WEB); his help is a daily reality, not a rare intervention.
- The ascended King gives gifts. "You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among men" (Psalm 68:18, WEB); the New Testament sees here the risen Christ enriching his church.
- How does the opening cry "Let God arise" set the tone for the whole psalm (vv. 1-3)?
- What does it tell us about God that the same psalm calls him both the rider on the clouds and the father of the fatherless (vv. 4-6)?
- What does it mean that God "daily bears our burdens" (v. 19), and how is that different from occasional help?
- How does the New Testament's use of verse 18 deepen its meaning in light of Christ's ascension?
- Which burden do you most need to entrust to the God who daily carries his people?
- It frames God as a victorious King on the march. By echoing the wilderness cry whenever the ark set out, the psalm sets every following scene—victories, processions, ascension—under the banner of God rising to act for his people.
- It holds together majesty and mercy. The God enthroned above the clouds stoops to be a father to orphans and a defender of widows (vv. 4-6), showing that supreme power and tender compassion meet in the same Lord.
- It means God's burden-bearing is continual, woven into every ordinary day rather than reserved for emergencies. We can wake each morning trusting that the God of salvation is already carrying what would crush us.
- Paul applies verse 18 to Christ's ascension, where the victorious Lord, having led captivity captive, pours out gifts on his church. The psalm's triumphant procession is fulfilled in Jesus enriching his people by his Spirit.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name a specific weight—grief, fear, responsibility—and to picture handing it to the God who "daily bears our burdens." As leader, keep the tone reassuring, emphasizing that God offers to carry what we cannot.