Psalm 108 may sound familiar. That’s because it’s the combination of 2 of David’s other Psalms. Verses 1-5 are from Psalm 57 and verses 6-13 are from Psalm 60. When God repeats something — and we see that a lot in the Bible — that means it’s important. He wants you to understand it. He wants to assure us that with the Help of God, we can do mighty things. We tend to forget that. When the trials, troubles, news, corruption, and evil of this world overwhelm us, that’s not the time to hide, cry, or get upset. Let’s dig in…
Psalm 108
A song, a Psalm of David.
My heart is confident in you, O God;
no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!
2 Wake up, lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
3 I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
4 For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth.6 Now rescue your beloved people.
Answer and save us by your power.
7 God has promised this by his holiness [in His Sanctuary]:
“I will divide up Shechem with joy.
I will measure out the valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is mine,
and Manasseh, too.
Ephraim, my helmet, will produce my warriors,
and Judah, my scepter, will produce my kings.
9 But Moab, my washbasin, will become my servant,
and I will wipe my feet on Edom
and shout in triumph over Philistia.”10 Who will bring me into the fortified city?
Psalm 108 NLT
Who will bring me victory over Edom?
11 Have you rejected us, O God?
Will you no longer march with our armies?
12 Oh, please help us against our enemies,
for all human help is useless.
13 With God’s help we will do mighty things,
for he will trample down our foes.
Insights on this Psalm
If you don’t recognize the names of the countries mentioned here, Moab and Edom are in modern-day Jordan and Philistia is Gaza. David pleads with God to help Israel to fight its enemies. Furthermore, he acknowledges, that “all human help is useless.” In other words, we must trust and call on God and not put our trust in humans. Period. Only with God’s help will we do mighty things. Notice that it ends with “HE will trample down our foes”. We overcome only with HIS help.
Pastor Sandy Adams adds some historical facts…
Psalm 57 was written while David was on the run from King Saul. Psalm 60 was penned after Saul had died, and David became king. Put the psalms together, and they show just how far God brought David… God exalted him from fugitive to potentate – from runaway to ruler. It just goes to prove that God’s grace always cuts to the head of the line.
Pastor Sandy Adams
Read the story in 1 and 2 Kings.
An Affirmation
Before he pleads, David affirms his confidence in God. That’s one of our problems. We ask for the help of God without proclaiming His greatness, power, and sovereignty. In fact, David gets up early to praise and talk to God.
Paul wrote…
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace [Shalom] of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7 NIV (emphasis mine)
Years ago, when I was going through what would be a 2-year stint of unemployment, my church held a 24/7 prayer event. We were encouraged to sign up to pray for an hour in the prayer room. I, coming from a Catholic background and only knowing 3 prayers — the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Act of Contrition — couldn’t imagine my being able to pray for a WHOLE HOUR! But I did.
Afterward, I met with some friends and they asked me how I was. I honestly replied, “Peaceful.” I couldn’t understand it. Even though I was anxious about not having a job and how I was going to pay my bills, I felt peaceful. It’s amazing how honest, humble prayer works!
Over 16 years later, I look back and know that God put me through that trial so I could learn to trust HIM. I had put my trust in my former employer, in a job, and in a career that was not meant to be. God had other plans for me.
I learned the hard way that the battle belongs to the Lord. It’s His to fight. When we succeed — whatever it is — if we get through it — it’s solely because of the help of God — not anything you did nor anyone else. If someone helped you, God sent them. If you thought of a solution, God inspired it.
Israel Today
I read verse 6 and thought of what’s happening in Israel today. It’s a prayer that we should all pray for Israel. I think of Psalm 121 — a Psalm of Ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
Psalm 121 NIV
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Israel Today Needs the Help of God
Today, what I pray for Israel is for the government and military leaders to — like David did — seek God’s help before each strategy and tactical meeting. Since the Oct. 7th massacre happened, more and more Jews are turning back to God. Moreover, many seek and find a relationship with Yeshua Hamashiach — Jesus, the Jewish Messiah.
Do YOU know Jesus?
Isn’t it about time you let Him in?
Can We Trust God to Fulfill His Promises?
Read Joseph’s story in Genesis 38-50. Read Daniel’s story.
