Psalms 108:1-13

Psalms 108

DESCRIPTIVE TITLE

Two Fragments of Earlier Psalms.

ANALYSIS

Psalms 108:1-6 are taken from Psalms 57:7-11: and Psalms 108:6-9 from Psalms 60:5-8. For Exposition, see those psalms. Probable Occasion for this Composite Psalm: Danger from Edom, Not so Accute as in Psalms 60.

(Lm.)SongPsalmBy David.

1

Steadfast is my heart O God![495]

[495] Some cod. (w. Sep., Syr., Vul.) repeat the clause: steadfast is my heart. Cp. Psalms 57:7Gn.

I would fain sing and would play,yea my glory![496]

[496] See Psalms 16:9 note.

2

Oh awake lute and lyre!

I would fain waken the dawn:

3

I would thank thee among the peoples O Jehovah,

I would celebrate thee in psalm[497] among the races of men.

[497] Or: make melody unto thee.

4

For great above the heavens is thy kindness.

and as far as the skies[498] thy truth.

[498] Or: fleecy clouds.

5

Be exalted above the heavens O god,

and above all the earth be thy glory,

6

To the end thy beloved may be rescued

oh save with thy right hand and answer me.[499]

[499] Written us, but read me; and so most authorities.

7

God spake in his holiness:

Let me exult let me apportion Shechem,
And the Vale of Succoth will I measure out:

8

Mine is Gilead and mine Manasseh;

But Ephraim is the defence of my head,
Judah is my commander's staff:

9

Moab is my wash-bowl,

Unto Edom will I cast my sandal,
Over Philistia raise a shout of triumph.

10

Who will conduct me to the fortified city?[500]

[500] Some cod: city entrenched, exactly as Psalms 60:9.

Who will lead me as far as Edom?

11

Hast not thou[501] O God rejected us?

[501] Some cod. (w. Sep., Syr., Vul.): thou emphatic as Psalms 60:10.

and thou wilt not O God go forth with our hosts?

12

O grant to us help out of distress,

since unreal is a victory[502] by man:

[502] Or: deliverance, salvation.

13

In God we shall do valiantly,

he himself therefore shall[503] tread down our adversaries!

[503] Cp. on Psalms 60:12.

(Lm.) To the Chief Musician.

PARAPHRASE

Psalms 108

O God, my heart is ready to praise You! I will sing and rejoice before You.
2 Wake up, O harp and lyre! We will meet the dawn with song.
3 I will praise You everywhere around the world, in every nation.
4 For Your lovingkindness is great beyond measure, high as the heavens! Your faithfulness reaches the skies!
5 His glory is far more vast than the heavens! It towers above the earth.
6 Hear the cry of Your beloved childcome with mighty power and rescue me.
7 God has given sacred promises; no wonder I exult! He has promised to give us all the land of Shechem, and also Succoth Valley!
8 Gilead is Mine to give to you, He says, and Manasseh as well; the land of Ephraim is the helmet on My head. Judah is My scepter.
9 But Moab and Edom are despised;[504] and I will shout in triumph over the Philistines.

[504] Literally, Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast My shoe.

10 Who but God can give me strength to conquer these fortified cities? Who else can lead me into Edom?
11 Lord, have You thrown us away? Have You deserted our army?
12 Oh, help us fight against our enemies, for men are useless allies.
13 But with the help of God we shall do mighty acts of valor! For He treads down our foes.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.

Why is this psalm a composite of two earlier ones? i.e. what is the occasion for its composition?

2.

Is there any danger here of vain repetition? Discuss. Read: Philippians 4:4; Gal. 1-9; Philippians 3:1.