God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
Psalm 68 opens with God rising up to act for His people. Before the psalm goes further, it pauses to say what this God is like. Verse 6 answers with three short pictures — a home given, a prison opened, and a dry land left to those who resist Him.
The Setting of the Song
The psalm recalls the wilderness journey. Its opening verses set out God's character as the reason for praise.
The Bible TreasuryThis Psalm celebrates how God, Jehovah-Adonai, steps in for His earthly people... Moses could ask God to arise when the ark of the Lord was lifted up for each journey in the wilderness... After this, up to verse 9, we have God's character set out, as shown in His actions, for which He is to be praised.
What the Words Mean
One close rendering keeps the Hebrew name for God, Elohim, and calls the solitary "the separated ones":
J. N. DarbyElohim settling or establishing the separated ones in a house, causing those bound in chains to go out in prosperity. But, on the contrary, the rebellious shall dwell in a dry land — that is, in desolation.
Older versions read the middle clause as bringing out those "bound with chains." The word behind it is rare, and one note on translation argues for a different sense:
The Bible TreasuryPsalm 68:6, "With chains" — rather, "into prosperity." It occurs nowhere else.
Proved in Israel's Story
Israel's own history supplied an example for each clause. This writer quotes an older English version, which reads "sets the solitary in families."
C. E. Stuart"God sets the solitary in families." Could not Abraham bear witness to this when Isaac was given to him? Isaac was the pledge of the promise. Abraham had left his country, his relatives, and his father's house, yet he would have descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the sand on the seashore. "He brings out the prisoners into prosperity." Could not Joseph speak of this, when he was taken straight from the dungeon to be lord over the land of Egypt? "But the rebellious dwell in a dry land." Were not those who came out of Egypt and never entered the land, but died at last in the wilderness, solemn illustrations of this?
The Lonely Made One
One writer applies it in two directions: "How this verse bears on the future of Israel is clear. Its general application to God's dealings with people, in both grace and judgment, is just as clear" (Pridham). In the picture of Israel, the word for "solitary" also carries the idea of being made one.
J. N. DarbyWhile evil prevails, there is no unity except in separation... The y'khidim — the solitary ones — are then the united ones. They are driven into separated union with Messiah in hope. His Spirit separates them from the mass, and that makes them truly one. They shall then be settled in a house. That is one fruit of God's arising. Next He brings those bound out of captivity, loosing their bands. As for the rebellious — those who revolt and exercise proud will against Him and against the poor — He puts them in desolation, in a dry land.
The Craving God Answers
Another writer takes the three clauses together, as one steady way God acts:
L. M. GrantThose who have been solitary He sets in families, providing the fellowship that their hearts rightly crave. Also, those who have been in bondage He not only sets free, but changes their poverty into prosperity (v. 6). On the other hand, those whose attitude is rebellious are deprived of all fruitfulness.
A City Prepared
One writer reads the verse as a promise that loneliness is temporary.
F. W. GrantGod has made us for love and company, and in heaven that will be fully satisfied. We may be solitary in the wilderness; in heaven, never. He who "sets the solitary in families" has prepared for us a city... Of the city which has foundations, the builder and maker is God.
Summary
- Arising — God rises up to act, and the psalm sets out His character as the reason for praise.
- Solitary — one rendering calls them the separated ones. Those driven into isolation are the very ones He makes one and settles in a house.
- Prisoners — He does more than open the door. A rare word here is read as bringing the bound out "into prosperity" — poverty exchanged for plenty.
- Rebellious — the one clause of contrast. A dry land means desolation, the portion of proud will, seen in those who died in the wilderness.
- Home — Abraham received a family, Joseph rule in Egypt, believers a city with foundations. Loneliness belongs to the wilderness, never to the journey's end.