Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Psalm 68

The Coming of God in Triumph

My notes state this is "a hymn of praise for God's awesome appearance to the people in power and victory." Also, the original Hebrew text was badly preserved and the ceremondy that it describes is uncertain.

1 - 3 The psalmist is confident God will destroy all Israel's enemies.

4 - 6 The psalmist calls upon God (the rider of clouds - cool! My notes say this is "the imagery of Canaanite myth in which the storm-god mounted storm clouds and rode into battle." It's neat that they were able to apply old pagan images to the one true God).

7 - 10 The psalmist describes Isreal's rescue from Egypt and other miracles.

21 - 23. God will overthrow Isreal's enemies (i.e. "crush their skulls")

32 - 35 Great words of praise for God. "Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord [. . . ] Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

There's a lot of poetry here.
1-2 May God arise and scatter his enemies like smoke is blown by the wind and fire melts wax.
4&33 God rides the clouds.

Verses to remember:
3 May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.
19 praise be to the Lord, to God our savior, who daily bears our burdens.

13 Notes indicate that this verse celebrates the fact that God's people are assured that they have won victory BEFORE they battle. This could be literally or figuratively (like battling sin).

Graphic images of God's power:
21 God will crush the heads of his enemies; hairy crowns of those who continue to sin.
23 God will plunge his feet in the blood of his foes while God's dogs "have their share".

Conclusion:
35 God is awesome in his sanctuary; God gives power and strentgh to his people.
Praise be to God!