Psalm 68:7-10

The first large section of Psalm 68 (verses 4-18) continues with these lines in verses 7-10:

"O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain
at the presence of God, the God of Sinai,
at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad;
you restored your heritage when it languished;
your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy."

1. Tracing Yahweh's mighty acts in Israel's history, the poet mentions: (a) the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt--verse 7a [like a military commander, Yahweh "went out before" his army, the Israelites, and "brought them out" of Egyptian bondage: Exodus 3:8, 17; 7:5; etc.]; (b) leading the Israelites safely through the dangerous wilderness--verse 7b [see Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalms 78:40; 106:14); (c) giving the Israelites the law at Mount Sinai--verse 8b [see Exodus 19-24; (d) giving the Israelites the promised land of Canaan--verses 9b-10a [God's "heritage" in v. 9b is the land of Canaan--see Joshua 11:23; 13:6; 23:4].
2. When Yahweh appears, "the earth quakes"--verse 8; see Judges 5:4-5; 2 Samuel 22:8; Joel 3:16; Haggai 2:6-7. His presence and power are awesome.
3. God blesses the earth with refreshing rain in abundance--verses 8a, 9a. The Bible affirms repeatedly that Yahweh sends rain on the earth--see, for example, Psalms 104:13; 147:8; Matthew 5:43-48.
4. God is a faithful, compassionate, protective shepherd over his flock--verse 10a. Psalm 95:7 says:
"For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand."
See also Psalms 23; 78:52; 100:3; Isaiah 40:11; John 10:1-18.
Praise God for all he has done and continues to do for needy human beings.

John Willis