O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
Psalm 68:7 recalls God going before Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness to Sinai. Verse 8 confirms the setting by describing Sinai itself moved at the presence of God. Deborah used closely parallel language: “LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water” (Judges 5:4). Moses likewise said that the LORD came from Sinai and rose up from Seir (Deuteronomy 33:2). Paul later applies verse 18 to Christ’s ascension (Ephesians 4:8), but verse 7 remembers God’s historical march before Israel. Paul also states plainly that the Rock was Christ and that Israel tempted Christ (I Corinthians 10:4,9).
“O God.” The One addressed is God, and the New Testament identifies Christ with the divine presence that accompanied Israel. This does not make the incarnation begin in the wilderness. The eternal Word was God before He “was made flesh” (John 1:1,14). Yet Paul can look back upon Israel and say plainly that the Rock was Christ and that they tempted Christ (I Corinthians 10:4,9). Psalm 68 therefore presents no created captain marching before Israel. The Lord who afterward came in the flesh was already the divine Leader of His people.
“When thou wentest forth.” God went forth actively for His people. Israel did not escape Egypt, cross the sea, and find its own way while God observed from afar. Jehovah led, fought, judged, and delivered. Moses reminded Israel, “The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;” (Deuteronomy 1:30). The march belongs to divine initiative. The same movement appears at the opening of Psalm 68: “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered” (v.1), echoing Moses when the ark set forward: “Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee” (Numbers 10:35). God rises, advances, scatters enemies, and brings His people after Him.
“Before thy people.” Israel belonged to Him because He had chosen and redeemed them. At Sinai He said, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:” (Exodus 19:5). His people were not left to discover their own path. Moses said of the LORD, “Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day” (Deuteronomy 1:33). The same Lord now goes before His church. Christ said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). His people are safest following the Captain who has already overcome their enemies.
“When thou didst march.” The word describes God’s own advance at the head of Israel. Psalm 68:8 immediately recalls Sinai trembling at His presence. Deborah likewise described the LORD marching out of Seir and Edom, with the earth trembling and the heavens dropping (Judges 5:4). Israel was not a wandering company making its own way. God went before them after breaking Pharaoh’s power and bringing them through the sea. The glory belongs to God, not to Israel’s strength, wisdom, numbers, or courage.
This history also warns the saints. Paul wrote, “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted” (I Corinthians 10:6). He later added, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (I Corinthians 10:11). Scripture tells us its use: fear Israel’s sins and receive the record as admonition.
“Through the wilderness.” God chose a hard road for His people, and He had a purpose in it. Moses commanded Israel, “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no” (Deuteronomy 8:2). The wilderness exposed what was in them. They murmured, lusted, committed idolatry, tempted Christ, and were judged for unbelief and rebellion (I Corinthians 10:5-10). Yet Paul also states, “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (I Corinthians 10:4). The wilderness teaches dependence and fear. God can lead His people by a way that humbles and proves them without ceasing to be their God. Hardness does not authorize murmuring, unbelief, or disobedience. Israel saw God’s works and still provoked Him. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (I Corinthians 10:12).
The Psalm itself carries this march forward to Christ. The God who went before Israel at Sinai is seen ascending in triumph: “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them” (Psalm 68:17-18). Paul applies these words to Jesus Christ: “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men” (Ephesians 4:8). He adds, “He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things” (Ephesians 4:10). The Lord who went before Israel through the wilderness has now gone before His people into heaven itself: “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (Hebrews 6:20).
“Selah.” Stop and consider the God who went before His people, and the solemn lessons written for our admonition (I Corinthians 10:11). That same Lord has ascended on high and entered heaven as our forerunner. Bless His name, follow Him in the way He appoints, and do not provoke Him by unbelief.
O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
Psalm 68:7 recalls God going before Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness to Sinai. Verse 8 confirms the setting by describing Sinai itself moved at the presence of God. Deborah used closely parallel language: “LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water” (Judges 5:4). Moses likewise said that the LORD came from Sinai and rose up from Seir (Deuteronomy 33:2). Paul later applies verse 18 to Christ’s ascension (Ephesians 4:8), but verse 7 remembers God’s historical march before Israel. Paul also states plainly that the Rock was Christ and that Israel tempted Christ (I Corinthians 10:4,9).
“O God.” The One addressed is God, and the New Testament identifies Christ with the divine presence that accompanied Israel. This does not make the incarnation begin in the wilderness. The eternal Word was God before He “was made flesh” (John 1:1,14). Yet Paul can look back upon Israel and say plainly that the Rock was Christ and that they tempted Christ (I Corinthians 10:4,9). Psalm 68 therefore presents no created captain marching before Israel. The Lord who afterward came in the flesh was already the divine Leader of His people.
“When thou wentest forth.” God went forth actively for His people. Israel did not escape Egypt, cross the sea, and find its own way while God observed from afar. Jehovah led, fought, judged, and delivered. Moses reminded Israel, “The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;” (Deuteronomy 1:30). The march belongs to divine initiative. The same movement appears at the opening of Psalm 68: “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered” (v.1), echoing Moses when the ark set forward: “Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee” (Numbers 10:35). God rises, advances, scatters enemies, and brings His people after Him.
“Before thy people.” Israel belonged to Him because He had chosen and redeemed them. At Sinai He said, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:” (Exodus 19:5). His people were not left to discover their own path. Moses said of the LORD, “Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day” (Deuteronomy 1:33). The same Lord now goes before His church. Christ said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). His people are safest following the Captain who has already overcome their enemies.
“When thou didst march.” The word describes God’s own advance at the head of Israel. Psalm 68:8 immediately recalls Sinai trembling at His presence. Deborah likewise described the LORD marching out of Seir and Edom, with the earth trembling and the heavens dropping (Judges 5:4). Israel was not a wandering company making its own way. God went before them after breaking Pharaoh’s power and bringing them through the sea. The glory belongs to God, not to Israel’s strength, wisdom, numbers, or courage.
This history also warns the saints. Paul wrote, “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted” (I Corinthians 10:6). He later added, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (I Corinthians 10:11). Scripture tells us its use: fear Israel’s sins and receive the record as admonition.
“Through the wilderness.” God chose a hard road for His people, and He had a purpose in it. Moses commanded Israel, “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no” (Deuteronomy 8:2). The wilderness exposed what was in them. They murmured, lusted, committed idolatry, tempted Christ, and were judged for unbelief and rebellion (I Corinthians 10:5-10). Yet Paul also states, “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (I Corinthians 10:4). The wilderness teaches dependence and fear. God can lead His people by a way that humbles and proves them without ceasing to be their God. Hardness does not authorize murmuring, unbelief, or disobedience. Israel saw God’s works and still provoked Him. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (I Corinthians 10:12).
The Psalm itself carries this march forward to Christ. The God who went before Israel at Sinai is seen ascending in triumph: “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them” (Psalm 68:17-18). Paul applies these words to Jesus Christ: “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men” (Ephesians 4:8). He adds, “He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things” (Ephesians 4:10). The Lord who went before Israel through the wilderness has now gone before His people into heaven itself: “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (Hebrews 6:20).
“Selah.” Stop and consider the God who went before His people, and the solemn lessons written for our admonition (I Corinthians 10:11). That same Lord has ascended on high and entered heaven as our forerunner. Bless His name, follow Him in the way He appoints, and do not provoke Him by unbelief.