The Meaning of Psalms 68:1 Explained

Psalms 68:1

KJV: {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.

YLT: To the Overseer. -- A Psalm, a song of David. Rise doth God -- scattered are His enemies! And those hating Him flee from His face.

Darby: {To the chief Musician. Of David. A Psalm: a Song.} Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered, and let them that hate him flee before him.

ASV: Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; Let them also that hate him flee before him.

Discover Psalms 68:1

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Psalms 68:1?

MEANING: What does Psalms 68:1 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Psalms 68:1 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Psalms 68:1?

What is the context of Psalms 68:1?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{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.

What does Psalms 68:1 Mean?

Study Notes

Let God arise
The entire Psalm is pervaded by the joy of Israel in the kingdom, but a stricter order of events begins with Psalms 68:18 . This is quoted Ephesians 4:7-16 of Christ's ascension ministry. Psalms 68:21-23 refer to the regathering of Israel, and the destruction of the Beast and his armies.

, Revelation 19:17-19 .

Psalms 68:24-35 are descriptive of full and universal kingdom blessing.

(See "Kingdom" (O.T.),

See Psalms 69, next in order of the Messianic Psalms.

little horn

The vision is of the end of Gentile world-dominion. The former Roman empire (the iron kingdom of Daniel 2:33-35 ; Daniel 2:40-44 ; Daniel 7:7 will have ten horns (i.e. kings, Revelation 17:12 corresponding to the ten toes of the image. As Daniel considers this vision of the ten kings, there rises up amongst them a "little horn" (king), who subdues three of the ten kings so completely that the separate identity of their kingdoms is destroyed. Seven kings of the ten are left, and the "little horn." He is the "king of fierce countenance" typified by that other "king of fierce countenance," Antiochus Epiphanes, Daniel 8:23-25 the "prince that shall come" of Daniel 9:26 ; Daniel 9:27 the "king" of Daniel 11:36-45 the "abomination" of; Daniel 12:11 ; Matthew 24:15 the "man of sin" of 2 Thessalonians 2:4-8 and the "Beast" of Revelation 13:4-10 . See "Beast"; Daniel 7:8 ; Revelation 19:20 .

Beast

The Beast, Summary: This "Beast" is the "little horn" of Daniel 7:24-26 and "desolator" of Daniel 9:27 the "abomination of desolation" of Matthew 24:15 the "man of sin" of 2 Thessalonians 2:4-8 earth's last and most awful tyrant, Satan's fell instrument of wrath and hatred against God and the Jewish saints. He is, perhaps, identical with the rider on the white horse of Revelation 6:2 who begins by the peaceful conquest of three of the ten kingdoms into which the former Roman empire will then be divided, but who soon establishes the ecclesiastical and governmental tyranny described in Daniel 7, 9, 11; Revelation 13. To him Satan gives the power which he offered to Christ.; Matthew 4:8 ; Matthew 4:9 ; Revelation 13:4 . See "The great tribulation," Psalms 2:5 .

(See Scofield " Revelation 7:14 ") .

Armageddon

i.e. Mount of Slaughter.

make man in our image

Man. Genesis 1:26 ; Genesis 1:27 gives the general, Genesis 2:7 ; Genesis 2:21-23 the particular account of the creation of man. The revealed facts are:

(1) Man was created not evolved. This is

(a) expressly declared, and the declaration is confirmed by Christ Matthew 19:14 ; Mark 10:6 ,

(b) "an enormous gulf, a divergence practically infinite" (Huxley) between the lowest man and the highest beast, confirms it;

(d) science and discovery have done nothing to bridge that "gulf."

(2) That man was made in the "image and likeness" of God. This image is found chiefly in man's tri-unity, and in his moral nature. Man is "spirit and soul and body" 1 Thessalonians 5:23 .

"Spirit" is that part of man which "knows" 1 Corinthians 2:11 and which allies him to the spiritual creation and gives him God-consciousness. "Soul" in itself implies self-consciousness life, as distinguished from plants, which have unconscious life. In that sense animals also have "soul" Genesis 1:24 . But the "soul" of man has a vaster content than "soul" as applied to beast life. It is the seat of emotions, desires, affections Psalms 42:1-6 . The "heart" is, in Scripture usage, nearly synonymous with "soul." Because the natural man is, characteristically, the soulual or physical man, "soul" is often used as synonymous with the individual, e.g. Genesis 12:5 . The body, separable from spirit and soul, and susceptible to death, is nevertheless an integral part of man, as the resurrection shows; John 5:28 ; John 5:29 ; 1 Corinthians 15:47-50 ; Revelation 20:11-13 . It is the seat of the senses (the means by which the spirit and soul have world-consciousness) and of the fallen Adamic nature. Romans 7:23 ; Romans 7:24 .

us , Genesis 11:7

angel

( See Scofield Hebrews 1:4 ).

David

Kingdom in Old Testament, Summary:

I. Dominion over the earth before the call of Abraham

(1) Dominion over creation was given to the first man and woman ( Genesis 1:26 ); ( Genesis 1:28 ). Through the fall this dominion was lost, Satan becoming "prince of this world"; ( Matthew 4:8-10 ); ( John 14:30 ).

(2) After the flood, the principle of human government was established under the covenant with Noah

( See Scofield Genesis 9:1 ).

Biblically this is still the charter of all Gentile government.

II. The Theocracy in Israel. The call of Abraham involved, with much else, the creation of a distinctive people through whom great purposes of God toward the race might be worked out.

(see "Israel" ( Genesis 12:1-3 ); ( Romans 11:26 ).

Among these purposes is the establishment of a universal kingdom. The order of the development of Divine rule in Israel is:

(1) The mediatorship of Moses ( Exodus 3:1-10 ); ( Exodus 19:9 ); ( Exodus 24:12 ).

(2) The leadership of Joshua ( Joshua 1:1-5 ).

(3) The institution of Judges ( Judges 2:16-18 ).

(4) The popular rejection of the Theocracy, and choice of a king -- Saul, ( 1 Samuel 8:1-7 ); ( 1 Samuel 9:12-17 ).

III. The Davidic kingdom

(1) The divine choice of David ( 1 Samuel 16:1-13 ).

(2) The giving of the Davidic Covenant ( 2 Samuel 7:8-16 ); ( Psalms 89:3 ); ( Psalms 89:4 ); ( Jeremiah 30:7-113 ); ( Psalms 89:21 ); ( Psalms 89:28-37 ).

(3) The exposition of the David Covenant by the prophets ( Isaiah 1:25 ); ( Isaiah 1:26 ); ( Zechariah 12:6-8 ).

See margin reference, "Kingdom" and references.

( See Scofield Isaiah 1:25 )

The kingdom as described by the prophets is:

a) Davidic, to be established under an heir of David, who is to be born of a virgin, therefore truly man, but also "Immanuel," "the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" ( Isaiah 7:13 ); ( Isaiah 7:14 ); ( Isaiah 9:6 ); ( Isaiah 9:7 ); ( Isaiah 11:1 ); ( Jeremiah 23:5 ); ( Ezekiel 34:23 ); ( Ezekiel 37:24 ); ( Hosea 3:4 ); ( Hosea 3:5 ).

b) A kingdom heavenly in origin, principle, and authority ( Daniel 2:34 ); ( Daniel 2:35 ); ( Psalms 2:4-9 ); ( Daniel 2:45 ) but set up on the earth, with Jerusalem as the capital; ( Isaiah 2:2-4 ); ( Isaiah 4:3 ); ( Isaiah 4:5 ); ( Isaiah 24:23 ); ( Isaiah 33:20 ); ( Isaiah 62:1-7 ); ( Jeremiah 23:5 ); ( Jeremiah 31:38-40 ); ( Joel 3:1 ); ( Joel 3:16 ); ( Joel 3:17 ).

c) The kingdom is to be established first over regathered, restored, and converted Israel, and then to become universal ( Psalms 2:6-8 ); ( Psalms 22:1-31 ); ( Psalms 22:1-10 ); ( Isaiah 1:2 ); ( Isaiah 1:3 ); ( Isaiah 11:1 ); ( Isaiah 11:10-16 ); ( Isaiah 11:12 ); ( Jeremiah 23:5-8 ); ( 1713280700_64 ); ( Ezekiel 20:33-40 ); ( Ezekiel 37:21-25 ); ( Zechariah 9:10 ); ( Zechariah 14:16-19 ).

d) The moral characteristics of the kingdom are to be righteousness and peace. The meek, not the proud, will inherit the earth; longevity will be greatly increased; the knowledge of the Lord will be universal; beast ferocity will be removed; absolute equity will be enforced; and outbreaking sin visited with instant judgment; while the enormous majority of earth's inhabitants will be saved ( Isaiah 11:4 ); ( Isaiah 11:6-9 ); ( Isaiah 65:20 ); ( Psalms 2:9 ); ( Psalms 72:1-103 ); ( Zechariah 14:16-21 ). The New Testament ( Revelation 20:1-5 ); adds a detail of immense significance -- the removal of Satan from the scene. It is impossible to conceive to what heights of spiritual, intellectual, and physical perfection humanity will attain in this, its coming age of righteousness and peace. ( Isaiah 11:4-9 ); ( 1713280700_38 ).

e) The kingdom is to be established by power, not persuasion, and is to follow divine judgment upon the Gentile world-powers ( Daniel 2:44 ); ( Isaiah 9:7 ); ( Daniel 2:35 ); ( Daniel 2:44 ); ( Daniel 2:45 ); ( Daniel 7:26 ); ( Zechariah 14:1-19 ); ( Daniel 7:27 ) ( See Scofield Zechariah 6:11 ).

f) The restoration of Israel and the establishment of the kingdom are connected with an advent of the Lord, yet future ( Deuteronomy 30:3-5 ); ( Psalms 2:1-9 ); ( Zechariah 14:4 ).

g) The chastisement reserved for disobedience in the house of David ( 2 Samuel 7:14 ); ( Psalms 89:30-33 ) fell in the captivities and world-wide dispersion, since which time, though a remnant returned under prince Zerubbabel, Jerusalem has been under the overlordship of Gentile. But the Davidic Covenant has not been abrogated ( Psalms 89:33-37 ) but is yet to be fulfilled. ( Acts 15:14-17 ).

angel

( See Scofield Hebrews 1:4 ).

Context Summary

Psalm 68:1-11 - The Leader Of His People

This is one of the grandest odes in literature. It was probably composed when the Ark was brought in triumph from the house of Obed-edom to the newly acquired hill of the Lord, 2 Samuel 6:1-23. It is evidently a processional hymn, intended to be sung by bands of white-robed priests and Levites. In this paragraph the Ark was lifted to the shoulders of its bearers, while a measured strain was chanted, Psalms 68:1-6. Then, as the procession moved forward, the march through the wilderness was recited, Psalms 68:7-11.

Let God arise! These opening words are borrowed from the formula used by Moses, Numbers 10:35. Through the smoke of many a battlefield have they rung out! Cromwell's "Ironsides" charged to their music. In Psalms 68:5-6 we learn that God has a special care for lonely people and prisoners. The former He introduces to families, John 19:26-27. The latter are brought out into prosperity. Psalms 68:11, r.v. seems to have a modern fulfillment in the exodus of noble women from happy homes in Christian lands to publish the gospel of Christ to the heathen. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 68

¹ A prayer at the removing of the ark
⁴ An exhortation to praise God for his mercies
⁷ for his care of the church
¹⁹ for his great works

What do the individual words in Psalms 68:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician of David A Psalm a Song let arise God let be scattered His enemies and let those flee who hate Him before Him

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ לְדָוִ֗ד מִזְמ֥וֹר שִֽׁיר יָק֣וּם אֱ֭לֹהִים יָפ֣וּצוּ אוֹיְבָ֑יו וְיָנ֥וּסוּ מְ֝שַׂנְאָ֗יו מִפָּנָֽיו

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ	To the Chief Musician
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular Root: נָצַח Sense: to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.
לְדָוִ֗ד	of David
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: דָּוִד Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
מִזְמ֥וֹר	A Psalm
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: מִזְמֹור Sense: melody, psalm.
שִֽׁיר	a Song
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: שִׁיר Sense: song.
יָק֣וּם	let arise
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: קוּם Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
אֱ֭לֹהִים	God
Parse: Noun, masculine plural Root: אֱלֹהִים Sense: (plural).
יָפ֣וּצוּ	let be scattered
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural Root: פּוּץ Sense: to scatter, be dispersed, be scattered.
אוֹיְבָ֑יו	His enemies
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular Root: אֹיֵב Sense: (Qal) enemy.
וְיָנ֥וּסוּ	and let those flee
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural Root: נוּס Sense: to flee, escape.
מְ֝שַׂנְאָ֗יו	who hate Him
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular Root: שָׂנֵא Sense: to hate, be hateful.
מִפָּנָֽיו	before Him
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular Root: לִפְנֵי Sense: face.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 68:1?

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Similar Scriptures for Psalms 68:1

		Numbers 10:35 [9]
		Isaiah 51:9-10 [7]
		Psalms 44:26 [6]
		Isaiah 33:3 [6]
		Isaiah 42:13-14 [5]
		Psalms 7:6-7 [5]
		Psalms 89:10 [5]
		Psalms 68:30 [4]
		Psalms 78:65-68 [4]
		Ezekiel 12:14-15 [4]
		Psalms 132:8-9 [4]
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		Isaiah 41:15-16 [4]
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		Exodus 20:5 [3]
		Psalms 68:14 [3]
		Deuteronomy 7:10 [3]
		Psalms 21:8 [3]
		John 14:23-24 [3]
		Daniel 2:35 [2]
		2 Chronicles 6:41 [2]
		Ezekiel 5:2 [2]
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