Psalm 68 has been called a triumphal hymn. It praises God as the Divine Warrior, celebrating his victories in the past and looking forward to the end of all opposition to God in the future.
The psalm begins by quoting Num 10:35, the battle cry which which the Israelites broke camp in the wilderness during the Exodus years. Verse 4 pictures God as the Cloud-Rider, rebutting Canaanite mythology that presented Baal in that manner. Verses 5-6 state that from this exalted position, God acts as a defender and helper of those in need.
Verses 7-18 recall the mighty deeds of the Divine Warrior, including the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, the revelation at Mt Sinai, and the conquest of Canaan. God is pictured as a king taking captives, receiving gifts, and sharing the spoils of battle with his people.
God's superiority over all other heavenly beings is emphasized in vv 15-18. The mountain of Bashan (v 15) is associated with the rebellious sons of God who came to earth in the days before the flood and fathered the Nephilim (Gen 6:1-4).
The rest of the Psalm looks forward to God's victory over all opposition in the future.
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