Commentary on Psalms Volume 2 John Calvin
JOHN CALVIN
Sinai accordingly is mentioned by David, to teach us that if we would fortify our minds with a firm faith in the Divine presence, we must derive it from the Law and the Prophets.
Psalm 68:18-24
18. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: 516 thou hast received gifts among men; 517 even the rebellious, that the Lord Jehovah 518 might dwell amongst his people. 19 Blessed be the Lord daily: this Lord will load us with deliverances. Selah. 20. He that is our God is the God of salvations; and to the Lord Jehovah 519 belong the issues from death. 21. Surely God shall wound the head of his enemies, the crown of the hair of him who walketh on in his wickedness. 22. The Lord said, I will bring back from Bashan; I will bring again from the depths of the sea: 23. That thy foot may be stained with blood, the tongue of thy dogs even in that of thine enemies. 24. They have seen thy goings, O God! even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
18. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive There can be little doubt that these words are intended to magnify the proofs of Divine favor granted upon the elevation of David to the throne, by contrasting the state of matters with that under Saul. The ascending on high implies the being previously low, and intimates, that under the melancholy confusions which had prevailed in the kingdom, there was no longer the same conspicuous display of the Divine glory as formerly. The government of Saul, which, from the first, had originated in a way that was condemnable, was doomed to fall under the displeasure of God, while his favor, on the other hand, was to be restored under David; and the
"That is, a number of prisoners captive. See Judges 5:12; Esther 2:6; Isaiah 20:4." — Archbishop Secker. See the like phrase in 2 Chronicles 28:5, 11; Numbers 21:1; Deuteronomy 21:10. "The allusion may be to public triumphs, when captives were led in chains, even kings and great men, that had captivated others." — Dr Gill.
in man, "in human nature," says Dr Adam Clarke, "and God, manifest in human flesh, dwells among mortals." "The gifts which Jesus Christ distributes to man he has received in man, in and by virtue of his incarnation, and it is in consequence of his being made man that it may be said, 'the Lord God dwells among them;' for Jesus was called Immanuel, 'God with us,' in consequence of his incarnation."
The Hebrew here is not,יהוהJehovah, but,יהJah
"It is worthy of remark, that whilstאלהיםoccurs twenty-six times,אדניseven times, andאלfive times in this psalm,יהוהonly occurs twice." — Rogers' Book of Psalms in Hebrew, etc. volume 2, p. 221.