Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 68:19-23

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily beareth our burden, Even the God who is our salvation. Selah God is unto us a God of deliverances; And unto Jehovah the Lord belongeth escape from death. But God will smite through the head of his enemies, The hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his guiltiness. The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring [them] again from the depths of the sea; That thou mayest crush [them], [dipping] thy foot in blood, That the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from [thine] enemies." — Psalms 68:19-23 (ASV)

The abrupt transition from the scene of triumph just described to the actual reality of things that the psalmist now faces for the first time, really gives the key to the intention of the poem. It is by God’s favour and might, and not by the sword, that deliverance from the enemies actually threatening the nation is to be expected.