Psalm 68:1-18
Dear RTB’ers,
Today, the first half of Psalm 68. Both STS and my Study Bible suggest that the entire Psalm is written for a procession, most likely the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Like any other procession, this Psalm has a beginning, a middle, and an ending. Its beginning is the Exodus, Mt. Sinai, and the Wilderness (Psalm 68:7-10). Its middle is the conquest of the Promised Land (Psalm 68:12,14), and its (initial) ending is the establishment of Jerusalem (Mt. Zion) as the “chief” of all the mountains (Psalm 68:15-16). This “ending” of the first 18 verses only sets Jerusalem as God’s holy city. We will read tomorrow of the arrival of the Ark, especially Psalm 68:24-27. For the full story of the journey of the Ark to Mt. Zion, see II Samuel 6 as noted in STS.
Planted in the middle of these historical verses we see David praising the Lord – a common thread in all of David’s psalms: Sing to God, sing praises to His name … His name is the LORD; exult before Him! (v. 4) We also need to mention verse 18, quoted (in part) by Paul in Ephesians 4:8. Paul explains his use of this quote in the next two verses: 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. (Ephesians 4:9-10) That is, Paul is connecting the journey of the Ark to Jerusalem with Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. Those Ephesians verses are more clearly understood when we know the context of those original words in verse 18.
More tomorrow with the rest of this Psalm, with the arrival of the Ark in Jerusalem…
Blessings.
See also: June 17 (2022) / Psalm 68:1-18.