Psalms 68:30
Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.
Psalms 68:30
Psalm 68 is a song of God’s majesty and deliverance, attributed to David. It moves between exuberant praise and prophetic anticipation of judgment on the wicked. Verse 30 sits in the broader frame of God’s victory over enemies and the sorting of people into two categories: those who oppose God and those who align with him. The imagery—“spearmen,” “bulls,” “calves of the people”—draws on battlefield and sacrificial language. In the ancient Near East, cattle and bulls signified strength, warfare, and tribute. The call to “rebuke the company of spearmen” and scatter “the people that delight in war” expresses a divine judgment against those who revel in aggression and oppression. Typically, such warfare language in the Psalms is not a carte blanche for human violence; rather, it depicts God’s righteous justice ensuring peace and order among his people. The line about “pieces of silver” hints at the taint of bribery and exploitation (silver as a corrupting influence in some psalms). Historically, the Psalm celebrates God as victor who defeats his enemies and invites the nations to recognize his reign. The verse functions as liturgical imagery—invoking God’s power to restrain aggression and establish harmony.
This verse centers God as judge and liberator. It proclaims that power remains under divine sovereignty; human violence meets its match in God’s righteous authority. The command to rebuke and scatter those “delight in war” reinforces the biblical ethic that allegiance to God yields Peace, not perpetual conquest for conquest’s sake. The scattering of those who promote cruelty signals a larger biblical motif: God’s intention to break patterns of oppression and to vindicate the vulnerable. The phrase “pieces of silver” can be read as a critique of corruption that fuels violence, aligning with prophetic indictments against those who profit from conflict. For believers, the verse foregrounds trust in God’s justice, even when human enemies seem strong. Theologically, it points to God’s sovereignty over nations and the ultimate reconciliation of creation—where war-tied systems give way to universal worship of the divine.
When we face systems or groups that feed on violence or greed, this verse invites reflection and restraint—trusting God to rebuke and correct rather than taking vengeance into our own hands. It can translate into practical steps: advocate for peace without enabling aggression; resist profit-driven corruption that fuels conflict; and work to protect vulnerable communities from exploitation. In daily life, consider how you respond to affronts: do you seek retaliation or seek discernment and justice through lawful means? This is also a call to prayerful action: petition God to dismantle structures that “delight in war”—bullying workplaces, political cultures, or gangs that normalize violence. Embrace peacemaking as a practical virtue: mediation, conflict resolution, and mercy. Practically, you might support organizations that aid refugees, advocate for fair treatment, and invest in community programs that reduce violence. The core wisdom: trust God’s ultimate justice, while actively sowing peace in your corner of the world.
Cross-References: Isaiah 2:4; Psalm 46:9; Micah 4:3; Psalm 110:2-3; Revelation 19:11-16