Psalm 68

Read the Song of Deborah (Judg. 5) as preparation for studying this psalm, and compare the parallels: Psalms 68:4/Judges 5:3, 7-8/4-5, 12/30, 13/16, 18/12, and 27/14, 18. The emphasis is on God’s mighty acts on behalf of Israel resulting in His decision to dwell on Mount Zion. Several names of God are used, including Elohim (twenty-three times), Jehovah, Jah (short for Jehovah, as in hallelujah, Elijah, etc.), Adonai (six times), and Shaddai. The psalm is messianic; Paul quotes verse 18 in Ephesians 4:8 and applies it to the ascension of Christ. The use of “temple” in verse 29 doesn’t prohibit Davidic authorship since the word hekal was applied to the tabernacle as well (1 Sam. 1:9; 3:3; and see Ps. 5:7; 18:6; 27:4; 65:4). The psalm is a jubilant hymn of praise to Jehovah in which the nation of Israel gives four expressions of triumph through their God.