Psa 68:26 | KingComments | STEP | This section is clearly prophetic. It resembles the song of Moses after the deliverance of God’s people from the Egyptians ( ). Here it is God Who as King in the Person of the Lord Jesus is going to take His own throne. Christ is the King-Priest, the true Melchizedek. Therefore, His throne is also His sanctuary. Now it is not about the restoration of the temple service, but about a procession or going that is also a triumphal procession or going ( ). The king of the North and his army have been defeated. This triumphal march takes place before the eyes of “they”, that is, the world. When God has finally defeated and humbled His enemies, He takes up His residence in the sanctuary. Full of delight, which we hear in the exclamation “O God”, the psalmist says that as the ark was carried up to Jerusalem, the spectators saw its procession into the sanctuary. The procession of the ark is the procession of God, for the ark is His throne. This God David calls “my God, my King”, indicating a personal relationship with Him (cf. ). It is a procession that not only has spectators, but in which a crowd joins in the procession ( ; ). “The singers” go in front, after them come “musicians in the midst of the maidens beating tambourines”. It recalls what Miriam and all the women do with tambourines after the deliverance from Egypt and the passage through the Red Sea ( ). God wants to meet with a people “in the congregations” where they bless or praise Him as the almighty Creator “God” ( ). He is also “the LORD”, the covenant God of His people. He wants them to praise Him as LORD as well. Those who are called to do so are “of the fountain of Israel”. The fountain or origin of Israel is God Himself ( ; cf. ). All who are connected to Him as the living Fountain – which is only possible if they have received His nature ( ) – can praise Him. All twelve tribes – for by now the lost ten tribes are also back in the land ( ) – will come and bless God in the congregations ( ). They are represented by Benjamin and Judah from the south and Zebulun and Naphtali from the north. Benjamin is called “the youngest” because he is the youngest son of Jacob and the smallest tribe of Israel ( ). It is, however, the tribe that rules, that robs and divides the spoil (cf. ). “The princes of Judah”, the king’s tribe, are present to bring up the ark. They lead the way in “their throng”, which is the company of Judah that also walks along. Judah is much larger than Benjamin, has many considerable people and a large company. Yet Benjamin seems to be in the lead in this procession. Thus Benjamin is mentioned prior to Judah. It is also written of him that he rules, which may indicate that he controls the procession. Zebulun and Naphtali are far from the temple. Yet they are tribes known for their dedication to God in a time of decay ( ). Over the territory of these two tribes contempt is brought. It is symbolic of spiritual darkness. The first coming of the Lord Jesus changed this ( ; ). This will happen again at the second coming of the Lord Jesus, His return to earth. Then He will not be rejected, but accepted and will establish His realm of peace and righteousness.

‏ Psalms 68:26

The Procession of God

This section is clearly prophetic. It resembles the song of Moses after the deliverance of God’s people from the Egyptians (Exo 15:1-21). Here it is God Who as King in the Person of the Lord Jesus is going to take His own throne. Christ is the King-Priest, the true Melchizedek. Therefore, His throne is also His sanctuary. Now it is not about the restoration of the temple service, but about a procession or going that is also a triumphal procession or going (Psa 68:24). The king of the North and his army have been defeated. This triumphal march takes place before the eyes of “they”, that is, the world.

When God has finally defeated and humbled His enemies, He takes up His residence in the sanctuary. Full of delight, which we hear in the exclamation “O God”, the psalmist says that as the ark was carried up to Jerusalem, the spectators saw its procession into the sanctuary. The procession of the ark is the procession of God, for the ark is His throne. This God David calls “my God, my King”, indicating a personal relationship with Him (cf. Jn 20:28).

It is a procession that not only has spectators, but in which a crowd joins in the procession (Psa 68:25; 1Chr 15:14 ; 25). “The singers” go in front, after them come “musicians in the midst of the maidens beating tambourines”. It recalls what Miriam and all the women do with tambourines after the deliverance from Egypt and the passage through the Red Sea (Exo 15:20-21).

God wants to meet with a people “in the congregations” where they bless or praise Him as the almighty Creator “God” (Psa 68:26). He is also “the LORD”, the covenant God of His people. He wants them to praise Him as LORD as well. Those who are called to do so are “of the fountain of Israel”. The fountain or origin of Israel is God Himself (Isa 51:1; cf. Psa 87:7). All who are connected to Him as the living Fountain – which is only possible if they have received His nature (2Pet 1:4) – can praise Him.

All twelve tribes – for by now the lost ten tribes are also back in the land (Psa 68:22b) – will come and bless God in the congregations (Psa 68:27). They are represented by Benjamin and Judah from the south and Zebulun and Naphtali from the north. Benjamin is called “the youngest” because he is the youngest son of Jacob and the smallest tribe of Israel (1Sam 9:21). It is, however, the tribe that rules, that robs and divides the spoil (cf. Gen 49:27).

“The princes of Judah”, the king’s tribe, are present to bring up the ark. They lead the way in “their throng”, which is the company of Judah that also walks along. Judah is much larger than Benjamin, has many considerable people and a large company. Yet Benjamin seems to be in the lead in this procession. Thus Benjamin is mentioned prior to Judah. It is also written of him that he rules, which may indicate that he controls the procession.

Zebulun and Naphtali are far from the temple. Yet they are tribes known for their dedication to God in a time of decay (Jdg 5:18). Over the territory of these two tribes contempt is brought. It is symbolic of spiritual darkness. The first coming of the Lord Jesus changed this (Isa 9:1-2; Mt 4:12-16). This will happen again at the second coming of the Lord Jesus, His return to earth. Then He will not be rejected, but accepted and will establish His realm of peace and righteousness.