FRAMEWORKS:
Psa 108: Calling the Lord to help against an enemy neighbour
A
song. A psalm of David.
[Preliminary
Comments: Although David has in the back of his mind
an enemy [v.10-13] he purposes to maintain a right attitude by
praising the Lord [v.1-3] as he recollects His love and greatness
[v.4-6]. It is the same approach as we see in the early church
[Acts 4:24-26] putting everything in right perspective. Then he
senses the Lord speaking [v.7-9] as if to say, “You may be worrying
about your enemy neighbors but I am still the Lord of all the
Land.” He concludes with a recognition that he will not have victory
over his enemies until the Lord grants it but with the Lord they
WILL triumph – faith prevails! [v.10-13]. A psalm of faith in
the face of opposition.]
v.1-3
David declares his determination to praise the Lord
v.1
My
heart, O God, is steadfast;
I will sing and make music with all my
soul.
v.2 Awake,
harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
v.3 I
will praise you, Lord
, among the
nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
v.4-6
His desire for God to be glorified and to help them
v.4
For
great is your love, higher than the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
v.5 Be
exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.
v.6
Save
us and help us with your right hand,
that those you love may be delivered.
v.7-9
The Lord declares His sovereignty over the Land & surrounding
nations
v.7
God
has spoken from his sanctuary:
‘In triumph I will parcel out Shechem
and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.
v.8
Gilead
is mine, Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet,
Judah is my sceptre.
v.9 Moab
is my washbasin,
on Edom I toss my sandal;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.'
v.10-13
David has an enemy neighbour to repulse, God will help him do
that
v.10
Who
will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
v.11
Is
it not you, God, you who have rejected us
and no longer go out with our armies?
v.12
Give
us aid against the enemy,
for human help is worthless.
v.13
With
God we shall gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies.
[Additional
Comments: David in this psalm uses the same words he
has used in a couple of other psalms – 57:7-11 and 60:5-12. No
doubt having written them down [or memorized them] it is perhaps
surprising that he doesn't reuse parts of various songs more often.]
Continue
to Psa 109