Sing to God

Psalm 68 is one of the grandest and most powerful songs in the Book of Psalms — a song of victory, journey, and procession. It opens with a soaring cry — "God shall arise, His enemies shall be scattered" — and Part 1 (verses 1-9) paints the great picture: God arises, the wicked vanish like smoke and wax before fire, while the righteous rejoice with joy. Out of that joy rises the song's name — "Sing to God."

There is a beautiful movement here: from victory to joy, and from joy to song. "The righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy" — three expressions of gladness in one verse. It is the same joy taught by the righteous across the generations, among them Rabbi Nachman of Breslov: "It is a great mitzvah to be in joy always."

The central verse of this part, chosen as the song's name, is:

"Sing to God, sing praises to His name; lift up a song to Him who rides upon the heavens, by His name Yah, and rejoice before Him."

This is an active call: not only to believe, but to sing — lift up your voice, extol His name, and rejoice before the One above the skies.