A prayer at the removing of the ark. An exhortation to praise God for his mercies, for his care of the church, and for his great works.
To the chief musician, A Psalm or Song of David.
Title. שׁיר מזמור לדוד למנצח lamnatseach ledavid mizmor shiir.— This Psalm was composed by David, to be sung in the procession of the ark from Obed-edom's house to mount Sion. The several parts of it were suited to the several divisions of the march, and the whole of it adapted to so sacred and joyful a solemnity, as will appear by a careful perusal and examination of it. It refers, in a secondary sense, to our Saviour's ascension. Dr. Chandler has considered it in the most accurate manner, and we shall principally follow his observations.
Psalms 68:1. Let God arise, &c.— When the Levites first took up the ark on their shoulders, the singers began, Let God arise, &c. These are the words which Moses made use of whenever the ark was taken up for the several marches of the Hebrews through the wilderness, Numbers 10:35. As God was in a peculiar manner present in it, and as his presence was their great security from the dangers of the wilderness and the power of their enemies, when the ark was lifted up Moses prays, that God would arise up along with it, that his enemies may be scattered, and those who hate him flee before him. God's enemies were those of his people; and those who hated him the nations who hated them, who envied and opposed that prosperity which God was determined to procure them. David with great propriety applies these words to the translation of the ark, to Jerusalem, since God was still equally present with it, and his aid necessary to the protection of that city, and to the success which David hoped for over the enemies of his religion and people. See 1 Samuel 6:14. 1 Chronicles 15:27.