Psalms 108

Psalms 108:1

Psalm 108: Help! Quick!It is not surprising if this Psalm has a familiar ring to it. The first five verses are much the same as Psa_57:7-11, and the last eight verses are almost identical with Psa_60:5-12. The Psalm moves successively from praise, to prayer, to promise, to a problem, to prayer again and finally to a bright prospect. Praise (108:1-5)108:1, 2 The psalmist is steadfast in his determination to praise the Lord for His ceaseless love and faithfulness. He is ready and eager to sing and make melody to the Most High. While it is still dark, he calls his soul to wake up, and rouses his lute and harp from their silent rest in order to greet the dawn with songs of thanksgiving. Not a bad ideato start the day with praise! 108:3 Nor will he confine his song to the privacy of his home or to his own little neighborhood. Wherever he goes, the peoples will hear him worshiping the LORD, the nations will echo to his songs of praise. This determination should be ours as well. 108:4, 5 Why was David so enthusiastic about the Lord? Because His mercy towers in its immensity above the heavens, and His truth is sky-high. His praise should correspond to His greatness. So may He be exalted . . . above the heavens, and may His glory be above all the earth. As we listen to David’s rapturous songs of adoration, we understand better why someone wrote: Praise is more divine than prayer; Prayer points the happy road to heaven. Praise is already there. Prayer (108:6)Now he turns to petition. The country was under attack by enemy forces; the outlook was ominous. The supernatural strokes of success that Israel had so often experienced were strangely absent, therefore he implores the Lord to deliver His beloved ones by sending help to turn back the invaders. Promise (108:7-9)108:7, 8 Unruffled and majestic in His sanctuary, God asserts His sovereign rights over Israel and over the Gentile nations as well. He promises that the Messiah’s dominion will include the district of Shechem, where Jacob’s well is located; the Valley of Succoth, where Jacob built booths for his cattle (Gen_33:17); the lofty plateau of Gilead, famous alike for its pastures and medicinal balm; and Manasseh, with territory on both sides of the Jordan. Ephraim will be His helmet, leading the tribes in defending the realm. Judah will be His lawgiver, the seat of government, as promised in Gen_49:10. 108:9 Three Gentile nations are mentionedMoab, Edom and Philistiaas representative of the foreign territory which will also be included in the kingdom. Moab will be His washpot, a figure expressing contempt and control. He will cast His shoe . . . over Edom, implying ownership, servitude, and scorn. While Moab and Edom will be tributary vassals, Philistia will be crushed. “Over Philistia I will triumph.“Problem (108:10, 11)The promise of victory over Edom makes David restless to see its fulfillment. Sela, the capital city (also known as Petra), was renowned as being inaccessible and impregnable. He longs for someone to lead him to Edom that he might shout in triumph over it.

But there is a problemGod has hidden His face from Israel. His help has been missing, with disastrous results. Israel’s armies have been marching on to warand defeat, because the Lord is not with them. Prayer (108:12)Without the Lord the situation is hopeless, No one else will do. David had lived long enough to know that man’s help is useless. He asks the Mighty God to take up Israel’s cause again by giving help on the battlefield. Prospect (108:13)As soon as he leaves the place of prayer, the psalmist is singing a note of triumph. “Through God we will do valiantly,” for it is He who will crush the opposition and give victory to His beloved ones. This is the confidence, born of faith, that Paul Gerhardt expressed so eloquently: Is God for me? I fear not, Though all against me rise; When I call on Christ my Savior, The host of evil flies. My Friend, the Lord Almighty, And He who loves me, God; What enemy can harm me, Though coming like a flood? The world may pass and perish, Thou, God, wilt not remove; No hatred of all devils Can part me from Thy love; No hungering nor thirsting, No poverty nor care, No wrath of mighty princes Can reach my shelter there. My heart with joy upleapeth, Grief cannot linger there, She singeth high in glory, Amidst the sunshine fair. The sun that shines upon me Is Jesus and His love, The fountain of my singing Is deep in heaven above.