For grandeur and compass this Psalm stands, perhaps, unequaled. It was sung, most probably as the Ark was moving from the house of Obed-edom to mount Zion. It opens, therefore, with the words of Moses, as in earlier times the Ark was beginning to move through the wilderness. (Num. 10.) And we are told that at the carriage of it by David singers accompanied it (1 Chron. 15). Here we are as if listening to the song they sang.
And as the ark itself was a mystery, so was this journey of it. It was the expression of the return of the Lord to His Israel in the latter day. For then, through trials, they will be brought to the joy of God’s presence again; as here the Ark, the symbol of that presence, is brought from its distant exile and seated in the heights of Zion.
This journey appears to be broken into several stages (1 Chron. 15:26)—
First Stage—As the Ark begins its journey, the singers celebrate in a general way the different effects of the presence of God—of which, as has been said, it was the symbol—both on the wicked and the righteous. For that presence is doom to the one, but salvation to the other (Psa. 68:1-6).
Second Stage—After the first pause, the journey being resumed, the singers rehearse both the awful and the gracious tokens of the same divine presence, while Israel was passing the wilderness (Psa. 68:7-10).
Third Stage—Here they publish the power of God for Israel, when, having accomplished their passage through the wilderness, He brought them to Canaan, and there gave them the oil of joy for mourning, and beauty for ashes (Psa. 68:11-14)
Fourth Stage—This part of their journey appears to bring them within sight of Zion, and the singers hail that hill of God; and as they begin to ascend it, they prophesy the ascension of Christ, the true Ark, (in whom, as we know, the glory itself dwelt, for He was “God manifested in the flesh,”) and the fruit to themselves and others of such ascension (Psa. 68:15-19).
Observe, as to the angels, that they ascended at mount Sinai in their dignity, being able to bear the light of that fiery hill, having never lost their first estate of holiness and honor. But they attended on the ascension of Jesus in their ministry, being ready to serve in full subjection to Him.
Fifth Stage—Being now in the act of bearing their sacred burden up the hill, as they contend for the summit, the inspired singers celebrate the day of Israel’s trial, when the Lord will arise to deliver them from death and their outcast condition, to display His presence again in mighty power for them, and to recompense the controversy of Zion on her enemies. For this was in season, like the prophecy in the preceding stage; the struggle up the hill being a fit token of Israel’s last trial, as the beginning to ascend it was of the ascension of Jesus (Psa. 68:20-23).
Sixth Stage—Having gained the heights of the hill and the Ark having attained its rest, the singers, in like suitableness, prophesy the final glorious rest of God and His Israel, when the same presence of God shall still be known though in a new form, or as the goings of “the king.” The nations will then wait with their offerings: the spear and the sword will be rebuked; and He that rideth on the heavens will be found both in His excellency and strength for Israel, as is here announced (Psa. 68:24-35).
The Lord of heaven will concern Himself with Israel in these latter days. (See Psa. 68:33; Deut. 33:26.) For He will first, as the rider on the white horse, come forth from heaven for their rescue (Rev. 19), and afterward in the opened heavens be the great center of glory and power in the kingdom. (John 1:51.)
Such is this most magnificent Psalm, rehearsing the virtues of the Divine Presence throughout the history of God’s people. The song that was sung after the Ark had been duly set by David in the tent which he had prepared for it on mount Zion, is given in 1 Chronicles 16. That followed this. This was an interrupted song, while the Ark was on the way; that an unbroken one, when its journey was ended.