Psalms 68

“Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah , and rejoice before…” Naming Jah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:” Naming Selah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.” Naming Thy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.” Naming Kings keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.” Naming Almighty and Salmon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.” Naming Bashan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” Naming Blessed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.” The verse names God and Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:” Naming Bashan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.” The line’s distinctive content terms include blood, dipped, dogs. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.” Naming King keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.” The line’s distinctive content terms include damsels, followed, instruments. Its relationship to verses 24 and 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the…” Naming Benjamin and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:” The verse names God and Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty…” The line’s distinctive content terms include heavens, voice, mighty. Its relationship to verses 32 and 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.” Naming Ascribe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his…” Naming Blessed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.