Psalms 68:4

Psalm 68 begins with words that remind us of the wilderness days when God went out with His people. "Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, let those who hate Him flee before Him." The same One is celebrated in this psalm, rightly called a song. He is the One Moses spoke to when the ark set out on its journeys: "Rise up, Jehovah, and let Your enemies be scattered." Moses speaks of the effects that follow Jehovah's rising up. This psalm looks ahead and sees those effects carried out.

There is a contraction of Jehovah into Jah, also translated in the Authorised Version by LORD, except in Psalm 68:4, where the psalm urges Israel to sing to God and "extol Him by His name JAH." Jah signifies the absolute supremacy of the self-existing One, whereas Jehovah was the name made known to Israel, and on which they could count.

As "Jehovah" is used for the name of God in relation with His people, His name of moral government in general, so "Jah" appears to express His intrinsic being. There is therefore great force in combining it with His name of relationship... Jah then is God in His absolute being, the Self-existent; Jehovah in His relative and continuous character, the God of ages especially in connection with the sons of Israel.

The correct rendering of verse 4 is "Sing to God, sing forth His name, cast up a way for Him that rides in the deserts" (not heavens)... The word used for deserts (araboth) refers to the regions south of Jerusalem, Jordan and the Dead Sea. The One who comes as the glorious King is He who has passed through the scenes of death and has the power to lead from death to life.

The word means a "parched, dry place"... Death is in itself the stamp of man's condition, his removal from the place which through sin he has forfeited, and so, if there is no remedy, from the face of God. But when a man comes to realise this, and enters the dry, parched place, he finds One who moves there. That One is sovereign over difficulties that look impossible to overcome.

God is now seen as beginning His triumphant march, and as in Jehoshaphat's successful war, the singers go at the front of the army. They are to cast up the way before the advancing King. This, of course, is spiritual preparation... The spirit of praise is the spirit of power. The joy of what God is, is holiness itself. It is the atmosphere of heaven. It will allow nothing that goes against the character of the One it proclaims by His name Jah — the One who is, the great Reality.

"Sing to Elohim, praise His name, make your triumph in Him that rides" — or "rode" — "in the deserts in JAH, His name; exult in His presence."... "Make His way ready" is a well-known expression, but I am sure it is not the sense here. This recognises Elohim (God) as the JAH (Jehovah) that was with them in the wilderness — "I AM has sent me to you."

At the start He rides upon the Araboth, the places of man's need and extremity. Now He rides upon the heavens of heavens, high over all created things. Through all He sends out His voice of power, making Himself known in word and deed as Lord of all.