David was no stranger to the sort of triumphal processions described in this psalm. When he was a commander in the army of King Saul, the women used to sing his praise, in much the same way as verse 11 describes: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (I Samuel 18:7).

But instead of accepting all the glory and adulation for himself, David insists that God should get all the credit for whatever military victories His people may have won. For example, the kingdom of Bashan, just to the east of the Sea of Galilee, may have seemed invincible because of its high mountains (verses 15). But in the days of Moses, God gave King Og and all the people there into the hands of the Israelites at the Battle of Edrei (Numbers 21:33-35). God shattered them so completely that not even a remnant was left of them (verse 21). Just so, David made it clear that God is the One Who delivers His people from their enemies (verse 20).

And even though kings like Saul, and later David himself, were personally responsible for making sure that justice was done, David again gave God the glory for destroying the wickedness among His people (verse 2). David insisted that it is God, not human kings, Who gives the fatherless and the widows what they need (verse 5). It is God, not human kings, Who releases the prisoners and who punishes those who rebel against Him (verse 6), making them His captives (verse 18). And that’s because Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of all these prophecies, the only King Who has ever combined perfect power and holiness (verses 5 and 17).

But instead of forcing people to obey Him with the overwhelming power of thousands of chariots (verse 17), King Jesus made captives of those who rebel against Him by the blood of His cross. In fact, Paul quotes verse 18 to make this point, saying that for Jesus to ascend into Heaven, He first had to descend into the lower parts of the earth, becoming a man, and taking upon Himself the penalty that all our sins deserve (Ephesians 4:8-9).

But because Jesus humbled Himself in such a radical way, He is able to give gifts to all His people, even greater blessings than the ones David describes in Psalm 68: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers who equip all of God’s people so that we might serve the Lord and other people, and in such a way build up the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12). In fact, some of those leaders whom Christ gave to His Father and to the Church had first been the worst sorts of rebels against Him – and Paul himself was a prime example, wasn’t he?

So, if the women could sing the praises of David and Saul for their military exploits, surely we should praise God with equal vigor. For He has showed Himself strong in the greatest possible way (verse 28), conquering our hearts with His love and leading us to repentance by His grace. Blessed be the Lord!

Psalm 68 (NASB)

For the choir director. A Psalm of David. A Song.
Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; And let those who hate Him flee before Him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish before God.
3 But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts, Whose name is the LORD, and exult before Him.
5 A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation.
6 God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7 O God, when Thou didst go forth before Thy people, When Thou didst march through the wilderness, Selah.
8 The earth quaked; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Thou didst shed abroad a plentiful rain, O God; Thou didst confirm Thine inheritance, when it was parched.
10 Thy creatures settled in it; Thou didst provide in Thy goodness for the poor, O God.
11 The Lord gives the command; The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host:
12 “Kings of armies flee, they flee, And she who remains at home will divide the spoil!”
13 When you lie down among the sheepfolds, You are like the wings of a dove covered with silver, And its pinions with glistening gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered the kings there, It was snowing in Zalmon.
15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan.
16 Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks, At the mountain which God has desired for His abode? Surely, the LORD will dwell there forever.
17 The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands; The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captive Thy captives; Thou hast received gifts among men, Even among the rebellious also, that the LORD God may dwell there.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah.
20 God is to us a God of deliverances; And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.
21 Surely God will shatter the head of His enemies, The hairy crown of him who goes on in his guilty deeds.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan. I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;
23 That your foot may shatter them in blood, The tongue of your dogs may have its portion from your enemies.”
24 They have seen Thy procession, O God, The procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25 The singers went on, the musicians after them, In the midst of the maidens beating tambourines.
26 Bless God in the congregations, Even the LORD, you who are of the fountain of Israel.
27 There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, The princes of Judah in their throng, The princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Your God has commanded your strength; Show Thyself strong, O God, who hast acted on our behalf.
29 Because of Thy temple at Jerusalem Kings will bring gifts to Thee.
30 Rebuke the beasts in the reeds, The herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples, Trampling under foot the pieces of silver; He has scattered the peoples who delight in war.
31 Envoys will come out of Egypt; Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God.
32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; Sing praises to the Lord, Selah.
33 To Him who rides upon the highest heavens, which are from ancient times; Behold, He speaks forth with His voice, a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel, And His strength is in the skies.
35 O God, Thou art awesome from Thy sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!