As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God!
David composed this psalm to celebrate victories God granted him over his enemies, most likely after his triumph over the Ammonites and Syrians when the ark returned to Jerusalem. The ark's ascent to the holy mountain prefigures Christ's far more glorious ascension to heaven after He conquered His enemies and ours. Though the psalm rises to great heights of sublimity, its interpretation presents considerable difficulty at many points.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 68:1-35
As smoke is driven away. Easily the wind chases the smoke, completely it removes it, no trace is left; so, Lord, do thou to the foes of thy people. They fume in pride, they darken the sky with their malice, they mount higher and higher in arrogance, they defile wherever they prevail.
In these verses, I. David prays that God would appear in his glory, 1. For the confusion of his enemies (Psa 68:1, Psa 68:2): "Let God arise, as a judge to pass sentence upon them, as a general to take the field and do execution upon them; and let them be scattered, and flee before him, as unable to keep their ground, much less to make head against him.
Commenting on Psalm 68:1-6