Psalms108
New International Version
1 My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.
2 Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
3 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
4 For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
6 Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.
7 God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.
8 Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah is my scepter.
9 Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
10 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?
11 Is it not you, God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?
12 Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.
13 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.
Study
Psalms 108Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 108. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
vv1-13
We may usefully select passages from different psalms, as here, Ps 57; 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.
Key Words
שִׁיר: a song; abstractly, singing
מִזְמוֹר: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
לֵב: the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
כּוּן: properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous)
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
שִׁיר: to sing
זָמַר: play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music
אַף: meaning accession (used as an adverb or conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though
כָּבוֹד: properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
Cross References
Psalms 108Verses 1-5 are taken almost verbatim from this section of Psalm 57.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Verses 6-13 are taken almost verbatim from this section of Psalm 60.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Equates "glory" with the tongue or heart employed in joyful praise of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies Judah as the lawgiver, echoing Jacob's ancient messianic scepter blessing.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms triumph over Philistia, slightly modifying the parallel reading in Psalm 60:8.
Supported by JFB
Historical fulfillment of David putting garrisons in Edom and subduing the territory.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the lament of being cast off by God, contrasted with active hope of restoration.
Supported by Matthew Poole