Introduction: This is a longer passage than I usually quote, but I couldn’t find an earlier break which left me making ‘a unit’ of the reading! So I’ll say less and hopefully still throw some light on the passage!
1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
as wax melts before fire,
so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad;
they shall exult before God;
they shall be jubilant with joy!
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the LORD;
exult before him! – A great cry of victory in the name of God! Although the travel through the wilderness (deserts) from Egypt to Canaan in the past took 40 years and included many battles with people along the way and dealing with much complaining from the Jews, God was victorious! His victory is described here as if it was a breeze for God dealing with everything as simply as wind disperses smoke or as fire melts wax! Praise Jehovah God!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness, Selah Think on this! – God blesses the needy but repays the rebellious!
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
11 The Lord gives the word;
the women who announce the news are a great host:
12 “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”
The women at home divide the spoil—
13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds—
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
its pinions with shimmering gold.
14 When the Almighty scatters kings there,
let snow fall on Zalmon. – Now the scene has changed, the people are in the Promised Land! It is an abundant land with booty to be enjoyed from their victories! The shepherds are staying with their flocks on the mountainside! Snow falls white on the mountains, when the sun shines on the snow it glistens like gold. God has defeated the enemies (the Almighty scattered kings) and the God blesses (the snow falls and blesses the land!)
15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,
at the mount that God desired for his abode,
yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;
the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 You ascended on high,
leading a host of captives in your train
and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there. – In modern terminology Mount Bashan is the ‘Golan Heights’. It has volcanic soil and is extremely fertile. The mountain on which Jerusalem sits is nowhere near as fertile. Bashan may boast of its fertility but God and His mighty Power reside in Jerusalem. Here this is symbolised by His Mighty display at Mt Sinai where God met with Moses and gave the Law. God ‘resides’ in Jerusalem on the less fertile agricultural soil but Jerusalem is ‘enriched’ with all the Power of God – here described as great by having an abundance of chariots (‘twice ten thousand‘ = 10,000X2 = 100,000,000). There were no such number of chariots, but the Power of God is measured by numbers of chariots! v18 remembers the victory as God led His people up Mt Zion to Jerusalem, but I can’t help feeling that it is Messianic – looking forward to the coming of Jesus!
Isaiah 46: 7&8a – I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things. “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit.
Prayer: The victory is Yours, O God! Thank You!
As I read it! 