Psalm 68:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines:

NIV: In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the young women playing the timbrels.

NASB: The singers went on, the musicians after them, In the midst of the young women beating tambourines.

CSB: Singers lead the way, with musicians following; among them are young women playing tambourines.

NLT: Singers are in front, musicians behind; between them are young women playing tambourines.

KJV: The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.

NKJV: The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; Among them were the maidens playing timbrels.

Psalm 68:19–27 celebrates God's provision of victory. It also looks to future success against those who reject the Lord. The psalm imagines a victorious march into Zion: into the sanctuary of the temple. There, the Lord is praised by all the people, accompanied by music and celebration.

Prior psalms (Psalm 66—67) explored the idea of the Lord God of Israel being worshipped by the entire world, including the Gentile nations. Psalm 68 includes that idea, as well as a celebration of God's prior victories on Israel's behalf. The song uses dramatic imagery to praise God's power and grandeur. Mount Zion—the location of Jerusalem—is where the Lord chooses for His seat of power. The entire world should honor this; one day, the whole earth will do just that.

This psalm commemorates God's ascension to Mount Zion, another reference to the city of Jerusalem. This celebrates past and future victories won by the power of the Lord. It may be a general reference to Israel's success, or to the conquests of king David. Alternatively, the song might celebrate when David moved the ark of the covenant into the city (2 Samuel 6). Or, when he captured the site from the Jebusites (2 Samuel 5). The psalm is "of David," which may mean it is written in his style, or about his experiences, rather than being one he personally wrote.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/21/2024 3:49:45 PM