RR Psalm 68:1,2 Part 1
Shalom,
Psalm 68:1 For the music director, a psalm of David, a song. 2 Let God arise! Let His enemies be scattered! Let those who hate Him flee before Him.
My friends, this is so good… my eyes are filled with tears of joy. God’s word never disappoints. There are thirty-six verses (in most Hebrew Bibles) that make up Psalm 68. The significance of this is explained after the Rabbi Trail below.
Rabbi Trail: In Hebrew, the 22 letters are also the numbers. The assigning of a numerical value to words is called “Gematria.” While it is fun to “play around” with, I would not base my faith on it, as some do. An interesting side note, the mystical rabbis of old, who study Gematria to uncover “secret” meanings (we avoid “secret” meanings) have rules or conventions that guide their study. One of their rules is the plus or minus one principle. This means that if a value is close (say, plus or minus one) to being a significant meaning, they can just add or take away value arbitrarily to make the significant meaning fit. So, while we are aware of Gematria, we would never base our faith on it. End RT.
Thirty-six is double eighteen and eighteen in Hebrew is made of the letters, Chet(8) and Yud(10) which spells “Chai” (life). So thirty-six is “double life.” In Hebrew, when something is repeated (doubled) it expresses the superlative, so “double life” means the “best life possible.” And this Psalm is full of such exclamations.
Psalm 68 starts by repeating Moses’ prophecy as the Levites began to move the Ark of the Covenant (with some small changes for the context)… Numbers 10:35 Whenever the Ark would set out, Moses would say: “Arise, Adonai! May Your enemies be scattered! May those who hate You flee from before You!” This is the liturgy of the Torah serive.
In the previous Psalm (67) David repeated the Aaronic Benediction from Numbers 6:22-27. This first one is a prayer for you, to put God’s name and blessing on you, while the second one is also a prayer, this time for protection from God’s enemies.
Also, significant in this Psalm (68), is the use of God’s names. Scholars have counted their uses. Elohim alone is used 23 times, plus many other names of God I will point out as we continue in our meditations of Psalm 68. How about an oldie, but a goodie to start the week? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWXSYjHEe6I
After all that about the structure of Psalm 68, let’s put some substance to our meditation for today. Beside the previously mentioned reference of Numbers 10, where else do we find the coupling of God rising up and defeating his enemies? How about all throughout the Bible. Isaiah 33:2 Adonai, be gracious to us! We long for You. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of trouble. 3 From the noise of tumult people will flee; When You lift Yourself up, the nations will be scattered.
And, there is this, again from the Psalms… Psalm 132:8 Arise, Adonai, to Your resting place—You, and the Ark of Your might. 9 Let Your kohanim wear righteousness, and let Your godly ones sing for joy. Solomon prayed these same words at the dedication of the Holy Temple (see 2 Chronicles 6:41). From Moses to David and Solomon, it’s generational. May we all “wear righteousness” and “sing for joy” over the defeat of every enemy of God. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue 20-Oct-2026 9th of Chesvan, 5787
Ge 13:5-18 Jos 16-17 Ps 16 Mt 13:1–30 (1 Jn 2)
Psalm 68:1 For the music director, a psalm of David, a song. 2 Let God arise! Let His enemies be scattered! Let those who hate Him flee before Him.
My friends, this is so good… my eyes are filled with tears of joy. God’s word never disappoints. There are thirty-six verses (in most Hebrew Bibles) that make up Psalm 68. The significance of this is explained after the Rabbi Trail below.
Rabbi Trail: In Hebrew, the 22 letters are also the numbers. The assigning of a numerical value to words is called “Gematria.” While it is fun to “play around” with, I would not base my faith on it, as some do. An interesting side note, the mystical rabbis of old, who study Gematria to uncover “secret” meanings (we avoid “secret” meanings) have rules or conventions that guide their study. One of their rules is the plus or minus one principle. This means that if a value is close (say, plus or minus one) to being a significant meaning, they can just add or take away value arbitrarily to make the significant meaning fit. So, while we are aware of Gematria, we would never base our faith on it. End RT.
Thirty-six is double eighteen and eighteen in Hebrew is made of the letters, Chet(8) and Yud(10) which spells “Chai” (life). So thirty-six is “double life.” In Hebrew, when something is repeated (doubled) it expresses the superlative, so “double life” means the “best life possible.” And this Psalm is full of such exclamations.
Psalm 68 starts by repeating Moses’ prophecy as the Levites began to move the Ark of the Covenant (with some small changes for the context)… Numbers 10:35 Whenever the Ark would set out, Moses would say: “Arise, Adonai! May Your enemies be scattered! May those who hate You flee from before You!” This is the liturgy of the Torah serive.
In the previous Psalm (67) David repeated the Aaronic Benediction from Numbers 6:22-27. This first one is a prayer for you, to put God’s name and blessing on you, while the second one is also a prayer, this time for protection from God’s enemies.
Also, significant in this Psalm (68), is the use of God’s names. Scholars have counted their uses. Elohim alone is used 23 times, plus many other names of God I will point out as we continue in our meditations of Psalm 68. How about an oldie, but a goodie to start the week? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWXSYjHEe6I
After all that about the structure of Psalm 68, let’s put some substance to our meditation for today. Beside the previously mentioned reference of Numbers 10, where else do we find the coupling of God rising up and defeating his enemies? How about all throughout the Bible. Isaiah 33:2 Adonai, be gracious to us! We long for You. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of trouble. 3 From the noise of tumult people will flee; When You lift Yourself up, the nations will be scattered.
And, there is this, again from the Psalms… Psalm 132:8 Arise, Adonai, to Your resting place—You, and the Ark of Your might. 9 Let Your kohanim wear righteousness, and let Your godly ones sing for joy. Solomon prayed these same words at the dedication of the Holy Temple (see 2 Chronicles 6:41). From Moses to David and Solomon, it’s generational. May we all “wear righteousness” and “sing for joy” over the defeat of every enemy of God. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue 20-Oct-2026 9th of Chesvan, 5787
Ge 13:5-18 Jos 16-17 Ps 16 Mt 13:1–30 (1 Jn 2)
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