Psalms 108

Prayer to Yahweh for Victory over Enemies

1

A song. A psalm of David.

1 My heart [is] steadfast, O God. I will sing and give praise, even [with] my glory.

2 Awake, harp and lyre. I will awake [the] dawn.

3 I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Yahweh; I will give you praise among the nations,

4 because your loyal love [is] great above [the] heavens, and your faithfulness [reaches] to [the] clouds.

5 Be exalted above [the] heavens, O God, and [let] your glory [be] above all the earth,

6 so that your beloved ones may be rescued. Save by your right hand and answer me.

7 God has spoken in his holiness, "I will exult, I will divide up Shechem, and portion out the valley of Succoth.

8 Gilead [is] mine. Manasseh [is] mine. And Ephraim [is] the {helmet for} my head. Judah [is] my scepter;

9 Moab [is] my washing pot. Over Edom I will cast my sandal; Over Philistia I will shout in triumph."

10 Who will bring me to [the] fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

11 Have you not rejected us, O God, and not gone out with our armies, O God?

12 Give us help against [the] enemy, for the help of humankind [is] futile.

13 Through God we will do valiantly, and [it is] he [who] will tread down our enemies.

Psalms 108 Commentary

Chapter 108

- We may usefully select passages from different psalms, as here, ( Psalm 57 , Psalm 60 ) , to help our devotions, and enliven our gratitude. When the heart is firm in faith and love, the tongue, being employed in grateful praises, is our glory. Every gift of the Lord honours and profits the possessor, as it is employed in God's service and to his glory. Believers may pray with assured faith and hope, for all the blessings of salvation; which are secured to them by the faithful promise and covenant of God. Then let them expect from him help in every trouble, and victory in every conflict. Whatever we do, whatever we gain, God must have all the glory. Lord, visit all our souls with this salvation, with this favour which thou bearest to thy chosen people.

Footnotes

• [a]. The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
• [b]. Or "I will awake at dawn"
• [c]. Literally "protection of"
• [d]. Or "commander's rod"
• [e]. Hebrew "do might"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 108

\\<>\\. This psalm consists of several passages out of the fifty seventh and sixtieth psalms, with very little variation. Jarchi and Kimchi refer it to the times of the Messiah. The title in the Syriac version is, ``concerning the calling of the Gentiles,'' to which, no doubt, it has respect.