Psalms 108

Psalms 108:1-13

The incoming Salvation. A song, a psalm of David. The second psalm of the fifth book is very lightly treated by many commentators: as an example, Moll declares: — “Two fragments of Davidic psalms, namely Psalms 57:7-11; Psalms 60:6-12, are here brought together without any connection whatever; and the changes occurring, in only a few words, are so unimportant that neither occasion nor purpose can be discovered in this combination and conformation. Least of all is a poet like David to be held guilty of combining in such a manner two pieces taken out of their connection.” -Lange’s Commentary. Delitzsch agrees with Moll, and so does Perowne. Alexander and Hengstenberg unite, however, in believing the origin of these psalms to be Davidic; but “the former view,” says the American editor of Moll, “seems to be the most favored at present.” A truer reverence for Scripture would surely restrain the rashness of such criticisms. Granted that a psalm made by bringing together two ends of previous ones -or with scissors and paste, as it might be urged -may seem strange enough for inspiration; yet to say that “neither occasion nor purpose can be discovered in this combination” is a challenge of the perfection of Scripture which can only speak the audacious incompetence of the one who utters it. It is easy, on the other hand, to show that there is purpose: for it is just the character of a Deuteronomic book, such as this is, to give us, as Deuteronomy itself does, the way and the end, -the governmental way of God by which His end is reached; the end, therefore, which reveals the way. Now the previous psalm has given us, without any possible question, the ways of God with men; and that as shown especially in the case of Israel: what more simple than that, in the present one, we should have the end of His way with them? And for this -and to make it definitely plain to us what is intended -the ends of two previous psalms, cut off from the exercise and trials with which these are connected, should be joined together? The purpose which the commentator denies is, in fact, here transparent; and the unbelieving attack upon the perfection of the Word is an arrow turned back into the face of him that has discharged it. Now for the “connection” between these two ends. Certainly the psalm makes, as we find it here, a very complete whole; and the two portions join together in the second division of it without a seam. The first division gives us Israel’s praise as leading the incoming praise of the whole earth. The second appeals, therefore, that God may manifest His supremacy over the earth, for Israel’s deliverance. The after-divisions show the nation; as in answer to this prayer, upon the threshold of full blessing. There is no lack of unity or completeness here. The minor changes in the psalm here, as compared with the two psalms from which it is divided, we may not have skill to interpret or appreciate: for the true “higher criticism” is as feeble with us as that which is falsely called so is vigorous and strong; and these things naturally go together. For the interpretation of the psalm in detail it is sufficient to refer to the notes elsewhere (pp. 223, 224; 230-234.)