A Sign that You are with Me.

Psalm 68

1 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song. God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him!

2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God!

3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before him!

5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

6 God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah

8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God,fn the God of Israel.

9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished;

10 your flockfn found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

11 The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host:

12 “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!” The women at home divide the spoil—

13though you men lie among the sheepfolds— the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with shimmering gold.

14 When the Almighty scatters kings there,

let snow fall on Zalmon.

15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;

O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!

16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?

17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.

18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah

20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.

21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.

22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,

23 that you may strike your feet in their blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”

24 Your procession is seen, O God,

the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—

25 the singers in front, the musicians last,

between them virgins playing tambourines:

26 “Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!”

27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

28 Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.

29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you.

30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war.fn

31 Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.

32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;

sing praises to the Lord, Selah

33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.

34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies.

35 Awesome is God from hisfn sanctuary;

the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.

Blessed be God!

Thoughts on Psalm 68

Verse 1

For GOD to arise could it mean he was previously in a lower position and from outward appearances down for the count?

1 Corinthians 2:8 — None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Many had tried and some probably took credit for doing it, for at least a couple of days.

1) The Jewish authorities.

The high priest, chief priests and elders of the people, the herodias wanted him dead and they could of claimed it was them.

Matthew 27:1 — When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.

2) the Romans 

Up until Jesus came on the scene the Romans had a 100% success rate at crucifixion, they could easily claim it was them.

- A little Roman history.

the Roman military legal code was designed to guarantee that soldiers would rather face the swords of opposing armies than the wrath of their own centurions.

Punishments were strictly codified and scaled to the severity of the offense:

Fustuarium: If a soldier fell asleep on guard duty or stole from the camp, he faced the fustuarium. The offender's own comrades were forced to beat or stone him to death. This ensured mutual policing, as every soldier knew his life depended on the vigilance of his fellow legionaries.

Decimation: As described above, this infamous punishment was reserved for entire units guilty of cowardice or mutiny. The cohort was divided into groups of ten, and the men drew lots. The soldier who drew the short straw was killed by the other nine, regardless of individual guilt or rank.

Corporal punishment: Centurions carried a twisted vine staff (vitis) specifically for beating soldiers who stepped out of line during drills or marches, a constant reminder of authority.

These draconian measures had a profound, albeit complex, effect on morale and discipline. Paradoxically, rather than breaking the soldiers' spirits, this system often forged intense unit cohesion. Because survival relied entirely on the man standing to the left and the right, shared suffering and the threat of collective punishment forced legionaries to work as a unified entity. They knew that a failure of discipline by one man could result in the death of many.

3) The Devil and his flunkies

The rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers, spiritual forces of evil.

Ephesians 6:12 — For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Luke 4:13 — And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

John 13:27 — Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”

Satan (the Devil) and the rebels could stand up and boast that they had thwarted GOD's plans and had his Christ killed .

Jesus corrects the narrative for posterity.

The only way they could do it at all was he allowed it to happen.

The religious leaders, the Romans, the Devil and his cronies, none of them could do it, alone or together at anytime, period.

John 10:18 — No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

When he arose...

Thier responses (my imagination):

Chief Priest, leaders of the Sanhedrin, elders - Wait what?!? We need a plan!

- the Roman soldiers

We dont know what happened? We were guarding the tomb and the next thing we knew we were waking up on the ground.

We accept your bribe and please don't let Governor Pilate make our fellow soldiers kill us. None of us wants to draw the short straw.

Matthew 28:11-15

 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ (that was a humongous problem) And if this comes to the governor’s (Pontius Pilate) ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

- the Devil and the rest of the rebels.

Their surprise must have been monumental.

Colossians 2:15 — He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

The Devil lost his perceived anonymity and his secret rebellion was brought into the light. He lost the keys to Hell and Death (see Revelation 1:18). The rebels lost thier position and place in heaven, Michael the great prince and his angels gave the rebel alliance the boot. (see Revelation 12:7-8). The Devil and the rebels time is short, they know the lake of fire is waiting for them and they are playing the delaying game because winning is no longer an option.

This would count as fleeing before him.

Verse 2

Melted wax and smoke provides a good metaphor for the Devil and his rebels. They were once bright lights, placed high on lampstands to give light in the palace of the KING and on the Earth. Now they are dark wisps of smoke and like melted wax running away from thier stand. The prince of the power of the air, smokey, melted and runny.

Wicked Witch of the West:

[last words] Ohhh! You cursed brat! Look what you've done! I'm melting! Melting! Oh, what a world! What a world! Who would have thought a good little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness! Ohhh! Look out! Look out! I'm going! Ohhhh - Ohhhhhhhhhh!

Verses 3-4

Rejoice in GOD, praise him with joy exult before him. Sing a song to the name of the LORD who rides through deserts . Why is riding through deserts noteworthy, praiseworthy? In the ancient mind, who lived in the desert places? 

Leviticus 16:10 — but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.

Mark 1:13 — And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

Luke 11:24 — “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’

Waterless places, wilderness, all these are where the enemy is found, but GOD, Jesus rides through them. The Devil found out the hard way he can't get the upper hand even in the desert places. 

Verse 5

Where does the Psalmist get his theology about GOD being the god of the fatherless and the widow? 

Moses recounts this along with other things he learned from being with GOD. 

Deuteronomy 10:18 — He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.

The people groups the LORD commanded the nation of Israel to take care of.

Deuteronomy 14:29 — And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.

Pure religion - James 1:27 — Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Care, in action not just in word, for the people that GOD cares about.

Verse 6

The he brings the lonely to a home with family, He frees the prisoners and brings them home. The rebellious have chosen a desert home. In Luke 16 Jesus told the story of the rich man an Lazarus. The situation of the rich man was fixed because the great chasm was there because the rich man and the others would leave given the choice, but they would not change they would just extend thier territory and influence. 

The rebel leader proves this point in

Isaiah 14:17 — who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?’

Verses 7-10

A snippet of the song Egypt

The cloud by day, is a sign that You are with me 🌪

The fire by night, is the guiding light to my feet 🔥

'Cause You found me, You freed me

Held back the waters for my release

O Yahweh

The Psalmist sings in verses 7-10 about the earth quaking before GOD and an abundance of rain coming down during Israel's release from Egypt.

Also found in:

Psalm 77:17 — The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side.

A separate event, but a similar outcome in

Judges 5:4-5

“LORD, when you went out from Seir,

when you marched from the region of Edom,

the earth trembled and the heavens dropped, yes, the clouds dropped water.

The mountains quaked before the LORD,

even Sinai before the LORD, the God of Israel.

Verse 11

Like the torrential down pour of the previous verses, here we go:

Announcing woman, a great host:

- Miriam the prophetess see Exodus 15:20

- Rahab see Joshua 2:12-14

- Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah the daughter's of Zelophehad. The LORD tells Moses - “The daughters of Zelophehad are right. See numbers 27: 1-11

- Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. See Judges 4:4

- Ruth see Ruth 1:16 wife of Boaz, mother of Obed, grandmother to Jesse great grandmother to King David

- Hannah, Samuel's mom see 1 Samuel 1-2

- Abigail see 1 Samuel 25:32-35

- Queen of Sheba 1 Kings 10:13

- A little girl from the land of Israel, see 2 Kings 5:2-5

- A woman whose son was restored to life, see 2 Kings 8:6

- Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum, 2 Chronicles 34:22

- Esther - the book of Esther

- Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, Luke 1:41

- Mary, the Mother of Jesus Luke 1:46

- Anna the Prophetess:, see Luke 2:36

- The Samartian woman, John 4:28-30

- Mary and Martha, 

- Mary Magdalene and Salome Mark 16:1

- Lydia, see Acts 16:14

- Priscilla, see Acts 18:26

- Junia, see Romans 16:7

- Euodia and Syntyche, see Philippians 4:2-3

- Lois and Eunice, see 2 Timothy 1:5

Verse 12

The women who remain at home are counted worthy to receive a portion of the plunder of war. She takes care of home and children and in this present age and in this world she is just as much at war and on the front lines doing battle for the hearts and minds of our children as any warrior. She is worthy.

William Ross Wallace wrote the saying, "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world"  

Verses 13-14

The Psalmist mentions several times the Kings will flee and the Almighty will scatter Kings. Who are these kings? Who does the Psalmist have in mind? Who does the SPIRIT have in mind? 

I think about the thrones mentioned in Revelation 4:4 — Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.

Then Psalm 82:1-3 - A Psalm of Asaph.

God has taken his place in the divine council;

in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

The sheepfolds were suppose to be secure areas for protection and management of the flocks. Peace and protection under wings covered in precious stones of silver and gold.

In this place where protection is supposed to happen GOD will scatter the Kings, there.

Zalmon is a place and a name in the old testament. A hill where Abimelech took covering branches and used them to burn down Shechem. It was also a name for one of David’s mighty men, one of the thirty. It means shade . One created being comes to mind that was part of the Sheepfold, part of protection and management. He was adorned in precious stones and a covering Cherub. Ezekiel 28:14 — You were an anointed (covering) guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.

Just like pure white snow on a mountain called Shadey, when GOD covers, it is pure and white. Isaiah 61:10 — I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Verses 15-16

What is this comparison with the Mountains of Bashan and the place where GOD chose to ive forever? Bashan is linked to the Rephaim, to the kingdom of Og, to the realm of the dead, the gates of Hell. Mount Hermon is part of these mountains. It is recorded in extra biblical, non-connonical text that it was on Mount Hermon that the rebel elohim in Genesis six started another phase of the rebellion that began back in Eden. The many peaked mountain that looks at GOD's mountain with hatred sounds alot like the chief rebel along with those in authority over nations that follow in rebellion with him.

Verse 17

The number of GOD's army is huge, but if you only had the Commander of the LORD's army backing you up, you have all you need.

Revelation 19:12-15 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped infn blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rulefn them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Verse 18

Paul writes in Ephesians 8 to 10 - Therefore it says,“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

The Psalmist sees it as GOD freeing the captives held in bondage in Egypt by Pharaoh (a god on earth) and other gods backing him up. Yahweh the only true GOD freed the captives and put to open shame the false gods and Pharaoh, Satan's representive. This was a shadow and an example of what the nation of Israel was supposed to do for the other nations of the world. It also was a shadow of what Jesus would do for the captives in the realm of the dead and also a shadow of what he will do in the end times with the final ultimate defeat of the Devil and the rest of his rebels.

Verses 19

He daily bears us up, keep this in mind every morning when your feet hit the floor.

 Lamentations 3:21-23 — But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Verses 20

This continues from releasing the captives, GOD is our salvation and deliverer from death (separation from himself).

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 - All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconcilingfn the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Verses 21-22

GOD will strike the heads of his enemies is reminiscent of the promise and prophesy of Genesis 3:15 — I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

GOD will go as far as bringing them back from the realm of the dead, Bashan and the depths of the sea to punish them.

Revelation 20:13 — And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.

Verses 24-28

I wonder if the Psalmist was also prophetically describing the scene in heaven on the day Jesus triumphantly entered heaven with all the Saints that he freed, overcoming Hell, death and the grave.

His power and might would have been on full display. Nothing like that was ever seen before by all the inhabitants of the heavenly realm. What would have made this day even more interesting for some of the citizens of heaven if like Hamen in the book of Esther (chp 6:11), Lucifer was required to parade the Saints through the streets of heaven announcing - “Thus shall it be done to the person whom the KING delights to honor.”

I have no proof I just think it would be ironically fitting and a humiliating punishment for the ones who chose to rebel and like Hamen tried to eradicate GOD's chosen people.

Verses 29-35

There is coming a day when nobles from Egypt and all the Kingdoms of the world will come up and praise and worship GOD.

Zechariah 14:16-20

Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them. And if the family of Egypt does not go up and present themselves, then on them there shall be no rain;fn there shall be the plague with which the LORD afflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths.This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. And on that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses, “Holy to the LORD.” And the pots in the house of the LORD shall be as the bowls before the altar.

A Sign that you are with Me.

My prayer echoes the final verse in this psalm,  GOD you are indeed awesome in your sanctuary and it blows my mind that you choose to tabernacle in and with each beliver. You alone give power and strength, thank you Heavenly Father, thank you Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit for being right here with us, amen.