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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comTreasury of David - Psalms 68:7 - 68:7
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
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.
Psa 68:7
“O God, When thou wentest forth before thy people.” What a sweetly suitable association, “thou” and “thy people;” - thou before, and thy people following! The Lord went before, and, therefore, whether the Red Sea or burning sand lay in the way, it mattered not; the pillar of cloud and fire always led them by a right way. “When thou didst march through the wilderness.” He was the Commander-in-chief of Israel, from whom they received all orders, and the march was therefore his march. “His stately step the region drear beheld.” We may speak, if we will, of the “wanderings of the children of Israel,” but we must not think them purposeless strayings, they were in reality a well-arranged and well considered march.
“Selah.” This seems an odd place for a musical pause or direction, but it is better to break a sentence than spoil praise. The sense is about to be superlatively grand, and, therefore, the selah intimates the fact to the players and singers, that they may with suitable solemnity perform their parts. It is never untimely to remind a congregation that the worship of God should be thoughtfully and heartily presented.
Psa 68:8
“The earth shook.” Beneath the sublime tread the solid ground trembled. “The heavens also dropped at the presence of God,” as if they bowed before their God, the clouds descended, and “a few dark shower-drops stole abroad.” “Even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God.” Moses tells us, in Ex. 19, that “the whole mountain quaked greatly.” That hill, so lone and high, bowed before the manifested God. “The God of Israel.” The one only living and true God, whom Israel worshipped, and Who had chosen that nation to be his own above all the nations of the earth. This passage is so sublime, that it would be difficult to find its equal. May the reader's heart adore the God before whom the unconscious earth and sky act as if they recognised their Maker and were moved with a tremor of reverence.
Psa 68:9
“Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain.” The march of God was not signalized solely by displays of terror, for goodness and bounty were also made conspicuous. Such rain as never fell before dropped on the desert sand, bread from heaven and winged fowls fell all around the host; good gifts were poured upon them; rivers leaped forth from rocks. The earth shook with fear, and in reply, the Lord, as from a cornucopia, shook out blessings upon it; so the original may be rendered. “Whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.” As at the end of each stage, when they halted, weary with the march, they found such showers of good things awaiting them that they were speedily refreshed. Their foot did not swell all those forty years. When they were exhausted, God was not, when they were weary, he was not. They were his chosen heritage, and, therefore, although for their good he allowed them to be weary, yet he watchfully tended them and tenderly considered their distresses. In like manner, to this day, the elect of God in this wilderness state are apt to become tired and faint, but their ever-loving Jehovah comes in with timely succours, cheers the faint, strengthens the weak, and refreshes the hungry; so that once again, when the silver trumpets sound, the church militant advances with bold and firm step towards “the rest which remaineth.” By this faithfulness, the faith of God's people is confirmed, and their hearts stablished; if fatigue and want made them waver, the timely supply of grace stays them again upon the eternal foundation.
Psa 68:10
“Thy congregation hath dwelt therein.” In the wilderness itself, enclosed as in a wall of fire, thy chosen church has found a home; or, rather, girdled by: the shower of free gifts which fell all around the camp, thy flock has rested. The congregation of the faithful find the Lord to be their “dwelling-place in all generations.” Where there were no dwellings of men, God was the dwelling of his people. “Thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.” Within the guarded circle there was plenty for all; all were poor in themselves, yet there were no beggars in all the camp, for celestial fare was to be had for the gathering, We, too, still dwell within the circling protection of the Most High, and find goodness made ready for us: although poor and needy by nature, we are enriched by grace; divine preparations in the decree, the covenant, the atonement, providence, and the Spirit's work, have made ready for us a fulness of the blessing of the Lord. Happy people, though in the wilderness, for all things are ours, in possessing the favour and presence of our God.