A manual of the book of Psalms · Martin Luther
PSALM LXVIII.
_A prayer at the removing of the ark.—An exhortation to praise God for his mercies, for his care of the church, for his great works._ To the chief Musician, A Psalm _or_ Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, _so_ drive _them_ away: as wax melteth before the fire, _so_ let the wicked perish in the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad: let them rejoice before God; yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, _is_ God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains; but the rebellious dwell in a dry _land_. O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah: 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. Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
The LORD gave the word: great _was_ the company of those that published it. Kings of armies did flee apace; and she that tarried at home divided the spoil. 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. When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was _white_ as snow in Salmon. The hill of God _is as_ the hill of Bashan; an high hill, _as_ the hill of Bashan. 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. The chariots of God _are_ twenty thousand, _even_ thousands of angels; the Lord _is_ among them _as in_ Sinai, in the holy _place_. 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_. Blessed _be_ the LORD, _who_ daily loadeth us _with benefits, even_ the God of our salvation. Selah. _He that is_ our God _is_ the God of salvation; and unto God the LORD _belong_ the issues from death. But God shall wound the head of his enemies, _and_ the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
The LORD said, I will bring again from Bashan; I will bring _my people_ again from the depths of the sea: That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of _thine_ enemies, _and_ the tongue of thy dogs in the same. They have seen thy goings, O GOD; _even_ the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary. The singers went before, the players on instruments _followed_ after; among _them were_ the damsels playing with timbrels. Bless ye God in the congregations, _even_ the LORD from the fountain of Israel. There _is_ little Benjamin _with_ their ruler, the princes of Judah _and_ their council, the princes of Zebulun, _and_ the princes of Naphtali. Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us. Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee. 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. Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the LORD; Selah: To him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens _which were_ of old: lo, he doth send out his voice, _and that_ a mighty voice.
This Psalm is a signal prophecy concerning Christ; a prophecy more animated and exalted, than usual, in fervency of spirit; and, as it were, exulting in the Holy Ghost; setting before us a view of the church, and those things which are to take place under the New Testament; and all this is done with a representation so clear and expressive, and with every thing depicted in that exact order, that it seems to be, not a prediction of things to come, but a description of things passing before our eyes. The Holy Ghost foretels the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the revelation of the Holy Spirit from heaven, and the mission of the Apostles: he describes, I say, the whole of this spiritual kingdom: this kingdom of grace and remission of sins, in which Christ should be preached as the true God, and as the Saviour and deliverer from death. He shows also, that the kingdom and priesthood of the Jews was to be abolished, and that a new and spiritual kingdom was to be erected; which should stand, not in human strength, nor in many thousands of horse and foot, but in the ministry and power of the word!—that it should be a kingdom, in which the Lord should give the word unto those who should preach it, in much power; by which the grace of Christ, and the remission of sins by Christ, should be preached, and not the law of Moses.
He calls the apostles, “kings and heads of armies;” because, by the gospel and the ministry of the word, they continually attack the kingdom of the devil and the gates of hell. For what are all the sermons and exhortations of the apostles, but the most terrible battles and conflicts against sin, death, the devil, hell, and all the righteousness and wisdom of the world? He also calls them “high hills, rich hills, and the inheritance of God;” and “chariots of the Lord of many thousands;” and also, “the multitude of them that preach good tidings, and sing, and play upon instruments;” because, the apostles and ministers of the word, by preaching the joyful gospel and the word of grace, continually praise, sing of, and celebrate the immense benefits of Christ, and the mercy of God. Thus, throughout the whole Psalm, the fervent prophet exulting in the Holy Ghost, describes, in a most sweet song, the whole kingdom of Christ! In the end, he prays that God would be pleased to render the church more flourishing, and to give his blessing and a happy success to this kingdom. And indeed, the prophet felt his heart moved, and was peculiarly uplifted and fervent in spirit, when he composed this divine and heavenly psalm concerning the kingdom of Christ.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.