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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Psalms 68:18 - 68:35
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The Exaltation and Reign of Messiah
v. 18. Thou hast ascended on high, to the height, referred by Paul to the ascension of Christ, Eph_4:8; for the Champion of His Church, having overcome all His enemies, now gives visible evidence of His victory by ascending in triumph to heaven; Thou hast led captivity captive, Satan and his hosts, who formerly held all mankind captive, now himself being bound with everlasting chains of darkness. Thou hast received gifts for men, among men, consisting of men, the reference being to the fact that the exalted Christ has chosen certain members of the human race as His own, men who are now subject to Him in the obedience of faith; yea, for the rebellious also, for even such as were formerly rebellious, unwilling to submit to the gentle rule of Messiah, are finally overcome by His mercy, that the Lord God might dwell among them, establishing His Church among the Gentiles also. For this establishment of the Messianic kingdom the psalmist now gives praise.
v. 19. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation, or, "Are we burdened, He, God, is our Help, He burdens Himself for us," thus helping us to bear the load which often seems too heavy for us. Selah.
v. 20. He that is our God, again the language of trusting faith, is the God of salvation, of the many acts of deliverance which we experience in our lives; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death, He has outlets, ways of escape, from death, He alone is able to rescue us from eternal death and to grant us the gift of eternal life; that is the privilege, the wonderful, mighty prerogative, of the exalted Christ.
v. 21. But God shall wound the head of His enemies, break it to pieces, utterly destroy them, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses, whose defiant wildness refuses to bow to the authority of God.
v. 22. The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, the wild fastnesses of the mountainous region east of Jordan, I will bring My people, rather, "the enemies," again from the depths of the sea; for whether they were hiding in the mountain forests or in the abysses of the Salt Sea, the Lord would search them out to mete out judgment to them;
v. 23. that thy foot, that of the Church personified as one individual, may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, which would flow copiously as the Lord struck them down in punishment, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same, the picture being taken from Oriental conditions, where the dogs licked up the blood of the slain, 1Ki_22:38.
v. 24. They, the members of the Church of God, have seen Thy goings, O God, His triumphal march; even the goings of my God, my King, in the Sanctuary, as His procession moves on in holiness.
v. 25. The singers went before, leading the triumphal procession, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels, the virgins, playing with timbrels, moving along on either side, their hymns proclaiming the victory of the Messiah.
v. 26. Bless ye God in the congregations, wherever the believers meet for worship, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel, all the spiritual descendants of Abraham.
v. 27. There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the conqueror of the enemies mentioned before, the princes of Judah and their council, the band of the leaders in Israel, the princes of Zebulon, and the princes of Naphtali, apparently a motley crowd, a great mass, but all united in the praise of the exalted Messiah; for in the spiritual Israel the high and the lowly, the rich and the poor, unite their voices in exalting the Lord, their King.
v. 28. Thy God hath commanded Thy strength, giving to the Messiah, the exalted Christ, unlimited authority in His kingdom. Strengthen, O God, that which Thou hast wrought for us, so that His Church may have the benefit of His achievements.
v. 29. Because of Thy Temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto Thee, pledging the Messiah their obedience and allegiance, the prophet here looking forward to the spread of the Messianic kingdom among the Gentiles.
v. 30. Rebuke the company of spearmen, the beast of the reed, the alligator, used as a symbol of Egypt and all heathendom, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, the entire hosts of enemy forces everywhere, till everyone submit himself with pieces of silver, bringing tribute to the Messiah, unwilling though it may be, Php_2:9-11. Scatter Thou the people that delight in war, their object being to make war on the Church.
v. 31. Princes shall come out of Egypt, magnates submitting themselves to the rule of the Messiah. Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God, offering tribute to the King of grace.
v. 32. Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord, the All-powerful, Selah, all nations giving Him the honor due His mighty name;
v. 33. to Him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old, the primeval or ancient heaven being thought of as the seat of God's majesty. Lo, He doth send out His voice, and that a mighty voice, sounding in a revelation of His almighty power.
v. 34. Ascribe ye strength unto God, acknowledging the exalted Messiah as the almighty Ruler; His excellency is over Israel, the glory of His mercy upon His Church, and His strength is in the clouds, far above and beyond any possible interference on the part of puny men.
v. 35. O God, Thou art terrible out of Thy holy places, to be regarded with fear and reverence; the God of Israel is He that giveth strength and power unto His people, to the assembly of believers in Him, to His Church on earth. Blessed be God, all glory due to Him alone for the marvelous revelation of the meaning and the fruit of Christ's exaltation. It is the Son of Man, elevated to the right hand of the eternal Father, to whom the Church, consisting of members both of Jew and Gentile nations, gives praise and glory as the eternal King of grace and glory.