God’s Enemies Are Scattered

The psalm begins by invoking God to arise so that his enemies are scattered and the wicked vanish like smoke or melting wax before him. In contrast, the righteous are called to be glad and exult before God. David summons the people to sing to the one who rides through the deserts and then highlights his character: he is father to the fatherless, defender of widows, one who sets the lonely in families and brings prisoners into prosperity, while the rebellious remain in a parched land.

F¹or the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song. ²As smoke is blown away, ³But the righteous will be glad ⁴Sing to God! ⁵A father of the fatherless ⁶God settles the lonely in families;

David recalls God's march before his people through the wilderness, where the earth shook and Sinai trembled before the God of Israel. God refreshed his weary inheritance with abundant rain and provided a dwelling for his flock out of his goodness. The Lord's command then sends out a great host announcing victory as kings flee and spoil is divided. Even those once lying low are pictured with radiant beauty like a dove's wings, and the Almighty's scattering of kings is likened to snowfall on Zalmon.

⁷O God, when You went out before Your people, ⁸the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain ⁹You sent abundant rain, O God; ¹⁰Your flock settled therein; ¹¹The Lord gives the command; ¹²“Kings and their armies flee in haste; ¹³Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, ¹⁴When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land,

The psalm contrasts proud mountains with the mountain God has chosen for his dwelling, declaring that the Lord will reside there forever. God's chariots are countless, and he comes from Sinai into the sanctuary in royal triumph. He ascends on high leading captivity captive and receiving tribute, even from the rebellious, so that the Lord might dwell among them. David then blesses the Lord who daily bears his people, naming him the God of salvation and the one to whom belong escapes from death.

¹⁵A mountain of God is Mount Bashan; ¹⁶Why do you gaze in envy, O mountains of many peaks? ¹⁷The chariots of God are tens of thousands — ¹⁸You have ascended on high; ¹⁹Blessed be the Lord, ²⁰Our God is a God of deliverance;

David declares that God will crush the heads of his enemies and promises to bring them back so completely that his people will share in decisive victory. He then describes God's procession into the sanctuary: singers, musicians, and maidens with tambourines go before him in worship. The congregation is called to bless God, and the tribes of Israel are pictured together, from little Benjamin to Judah, Zebulun, and Naphtali, united around God's presence.

²¹Surely God will crush the heads of His enemies, ²²The Lord said, “I will retrieve them from Bashan, ²³that your foot may be dipped ²⁴They have seen Your procession, O God — ²⁵The singers lead the way, ²⁶Bless God in the great congregation; ²⁷There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them,

The psalm closes by asking God to summon and strengthen the power he has shown for his people, with Jerusalem's temple as the place from which kings bring gifts. Hostile powers are rebuked until they submit with tribute, and Egypt and Cush are envisioned stretching out their hands to God. From there the call widens to all kingdoms of the earth to sing to the rider of the ancient heavens whose mighty voice thunders. The final doxology ascribes power to God, declares him awesome in his sanctuary, and praises him for giving strength and power to his people.

²⁸Summon Your power, O God; ²⁹Because of Your temple at Jerusalem ³⁰Rebuke the beast in the reeds, ³¹Envoys will arrive from Egypt; ³²Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; ³³to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; ³⁴Ascribe the power to God, ³⁵O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary;