Is God a Mighty Conquerer - Psalm 68

While it is true that Psalm 68 is notoriously difficult to categorize (Kyle Yates), it seems to me that it is best considered an ode. What is an ode? According to Literarydevice.com an ode is “An ode is a form of poetry such as sonnet …. Ode is a literary technique that is lyrical in nature, but not very lengthy. You have often read odes in which poets praise people, natural scenes, and abstract ideas. Ode is derived from a Greek word aeidein, which means to chant or sing. It is highly solemn and serious in its tone and subject matter and usually is used with elaborate patterns of stanzas. However, the tone is often formal. A salient feature of the ode is its uniform metrical feet, but poets generally do not strictly follow this rule though use a highly elevated theme."

In other words, in Psalm 68 David solemnly and artfully celebrates what we might call, “The Victory of God.” God, in the psalm, is viewed throughout time, from the beginning of Israel to the final battle of the Book of Revelation. God is pictured as waging war against the kings of the nations who oppress His people. The psalmist sees all of history as God’s war to win the deliverance and praise of His chosen people. 

The vision starts with Israel being delivered from Egypt, from the bonds of slavery. God’s conquering warfare continues until He fights the final battle against the hoards of the wicked and their evil kings. They are defeated and God is worshipped as the Mighty Conquerer who has saved His people from slavery and death.

For the outline of Psalm 68, I gladly give credit to Dr. James Montgomery Boice, whose three-volume set on the Psalms have been a wonderful companion over the years.