Psalm 108
Psalm 108, Praise and Trust From the Past for Today
Psalm 108 is titled, “A Song or Psalm of David.” This psalm is unusual because it is made from portions of two earlier psalms. Psalm 108:1 to Psalm 108:5 closely follows Psalm 57:7 to Psalm 57:11, and Psalm 108:6 to Psalm 108:13 closely follows Psalm 60:5 to Psalm 60:12. These are not copied carelessly. They are the inspired words of David, brought together by the Holy Spirit and applied to a new situation.
This teaches an important principle. The Word of God is not exhausted after one use. Scripture that was first spoken in one trial may become prayer, praise, and instruction in another trial. David could take words previously used in distress and battle and use them again when facing a present challenge. The people of God should learn to do the same. Old Scripture is living truth for present trouble.
Psalm 108 appears to face the threat of enemies such as Moab, Edom, and Philistia, with special focus on Edom. These nations had been enemies of Israel, and although David had subdued them, the need for renewed trust and renewed victory remained. This psalm shows David setting his heart in praise before asking for deliverance. He does not begin with panic. He begins with worship. He strengthens his heart in God before facing the strong city and the enemy.
The psalm moves in two parts. First, David declares the praise of God with a steadfast heart. Second, David declares confidence in God’s victory over Israel’s enemies. The movement is important. Praise comes before petition. Worship comes before warfare. Confidence in God comes before action against the enemy.
A. The Declaration of God’s Praise
Psalm 108:1 to Psalm 108:2, The Earnest Nature of David’s Praise to God
Psalm 108:1, “O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.”
Psalm 108:2, “Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.”
David begins, “O God, my heart is fixed.” This is the language of spiritual stability. His heart is not scattered, wavering, or ruled by fear. It is fixed upon God. A fixed heart is not a heart without trouble, but a heart anchored in the Lord despite trouble. David may be facing enemies, military danger, and national pressure, but his inner man has been set firmly upon God.
The word “fixed” carries the idea of being established, prepared, and steadfast. David is not drifting into worship. He has resolved to praise. He has commanded his heart to stand steady before God. This is a necessary discipline for the believer. Circumstances can shake the emotions, but faith fixes the heart upon the Lord.
David says, “I will sing and give praise.” This is an act of the will. David does not wait until all enemies are gone before he sings. He does not wait until victory is visible before he gives praise. He praises God before the battle is finished because God’s character is already certain.
The phrase “even with my glory” means David brings the best of himself to God. Whatever dignity, ability, honor, strength, or skill David possessed, he directed it toward worship. In David’s case, musical skill was part of his glory. He was known as a skilled musician.
1 Samuel 16:18, “Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.”
David’s music was not merely a personal hobby. It was consecrated to God. Whatever a man has been given, strength, intelligence, skill, courage, voice, leadership, resources, or influence, the best of it should be offered back to the Lord in praise and service.
Verse 2 says, “Awake, psaltery and harp.” David speaks to his instruments as though they must rise up and join him in praise. The psaltery and harp were stringed instruments used in worship. David’s praise was not half asleep, dull, or lifeless. He calls the instruments to awaken because praise to God deserves alertness, strength, skill, and earnestness.
“I myself will awake early.” David intends to meet the dawn with praise. He will not let the day begin with anxiety, complaint, or military calculation. He will awaken early to worship God. This shows discipline. The first and best part of the day belongs rightly to the Lord.
This is a good pattern. A man who begins the day with God is better prepared to face the battles of the day. David’s enemies may be strong, but he will not face them with an unfixed heart. He rises early with praise, and that praise orders his soul.
Psalm 5:3, “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”
David’s praise is personal, musical, disciplined, and early. He gives God the fixed heart, the singing voice, the skillful instrument, and the first hours of the day.
Psalm 108:3 to Psalm 108:4, The Wide Audience of David’s Praise
Psalm 108:3, “I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.”
Psalm 108:4, “For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.”
David now expands the audience of his praise. “I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people.” His praise is not hidden. He will praise Yahweh openly among the people of Israel. Public worship matters because God’s glory should be declared before others. The believer’s praise is not merely private emotion. It is testimony.
David then says, “I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.” His praise reaches beyond Israel. The nations need to hear the praise of the God of Israel. David understands that Yahweh is not a tribal deity locked inside Israel’s borders. He is the Lord over all nations. Therefore, His praise must be heard among the nations.
This fits the larger biblical purpose of God. Israel was chosen by God, but God’s purpose through Israel always included witness to the nations. The Abrahamic covenant itself included blessing for all families of the earth.
Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee, and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
David’s public praise among the nations anticipates the wider mission of God’s glory filling the earth. The nations must know that the LORD is God.
Verse 4 gives the reason, “For thy mercy is great above the heavens.” God’s mercy is not small, earthly, weak, or temporary. It rises above the heavens. Mercy here speaks of God’s covenant love, His loyal kindness, His steadfast faithfulness toward His people. David has known this mercy personally, and Israel has known it historically.
God’s mercy is great above the heavens, and His truth reaches unto the clouds. Mercy and truth belong together. God is not merciful by ignoring truth, and He is not truthful without mercy. His mercy is covenantally faithful, and His truth is unfailing. He keeps His promises because He is true. He forgives and sustains His people because He is merciful.
The greatness of God’s mercy and truth demands public praise. If His mercy rises above the heavens, then praise should rise high as well. If His truth reaches to the clouds, then His name should be proclaimed among the nations.
This verse also teaches that praise is grounded in theology. David does not praise God merely because he feels encouraged. He praises God because God is merciful and true. Sound worship comes from sound doctrine.
Psalm 108:5 to Psalm 108:6, A Cry of Exaltation to God
Psalm 108:5, “Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;”
Psalm 108:6, “That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me.”
David’s praise becomes a prayer for God’s exaltation. “Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens.” Since God’s mercy is great above the heavens, David prays that God Himself would be exalted above the heavens. God’s glory deserves universal recognition. He is already exalted in reality, but David prays that His exaltation would be displayed, acknowledged, and praised.
“And thy glory above all the earth.” David wants the glory of God to be seen everywhere. This is not small minded religion. David’s desire is global. He wants the whole earth to recognize the glory of the LORD.
This connects with the prophetic hope that God’s glory will fill the earth.
Habakkuk 2:14, “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”
In verse 6, the purpose becomes personal and covenantal, “That thy beloved may be delivered.” David is in trouble, but he has framed his trouble under the glory of God. He asks for deliverance not merely for his comfort, but so that God’s glory may be exalted.
The word “beloved” is important. David appeals to God as one loved by Him. David’s own name means beloved, and he comes before God on the basis of covenant love. This is not arrogance. It is faith. The believer should not approach God as a stranger if he belongs to Him. He may come as one loved by the Lord.
“Save with thy right hand.” The right hand represents strength, skill, authority, and power. David does not need a small rescue. He asks God to save with His strong right hand. David knows that human help is not enough. The deliverance he needs must come from God’s power.
“And answer me.” David wants a real answer from God. Praise does not remove the need for petition. Worship prepares the soul to pray rightly. David has praised God’s mercy, truth, exaltation, and glory, and now he asks for rescue.
This pattern is vital. David does not start with his problem and then try to remember God. He starts with God, then brings his problem under God’s greatness. That is how faith prays.
B. The Declaration of God’s Victory
Psalm 108:7 to Psalm 108:8, God’s Dominion Over Israel and Its Land
Psalm 108:7, “God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.”
Psalm 108:8, “Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine, Ephraim also is the strength of mine head, Judah is my lawgiver;”
David now turns to the declaration of God’s victory. “God hath spoken in his holiness.” This means the following declaration is not merely David’s military optimism. It is grounded in the holy speech of God. God’s holiness means He is separate, pure, sovereign, faithful, and unlike all created beings. What He speaks in His holiness is certain.
David was not merely a king, but also a prophet.
Acts 2:30, “Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;”
Here David speaks in confidence because God has spoken. Faith rests on divine revelation, not human guessing.
“I will rejoice.” God’s victory is not reluctant. The LORD rejoices in the fulfillment of His purposes. He is not anxious over enemy nations. He does not struggle for dominion. He speaks, measures, divides, assigns, conquers, and rules.
“I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.” Shechem was west of the Jordan, and Succoth was east of the Jordan. Together they represent territory within Israel’s covenant sphere. God declares His sovereign right to measure and distribute the land. The land belongs to Him before it belongs to Israel.
Verse 8 continues, “Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine.” Gilead and Manasseh include regions east of the Jordan. God claims them as His possession. This is significant because Israel’s land inheritance on both sides of the Jordan stands under God’s authority.
“Ephraim also is the strength of mine head.” Ephraim was one of the strongest and most prominent tribes, often representing the northern strength of Israel. It is pictured as a helmet or strength for the head. God uses Ephraim as an expression of defense, might, and military strength.
“Judah is my lawgiver.” Judah represents royal rule, government, and authority. David himself came from Judah, and ultimately the Messiah would come from Judah. This fulfills the ancient prophecy of Jacob.
Genesis 49:10, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”
Judah is the tribe of kingship, and Christ, the greater Son of David, comes from Judah.
Hebrews 7:14, “For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda, of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.”
Psalm 108:7 to 8 teaches that God rules over Israel’s land, tribes, strength, and government. Shechem, Succoth, Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Judah are not random names. They represent the covenant territory and structure of Israel under God’s dominion. The LORD owns the land, appoints the tribes, gives strength, and establishes rule.
Psalm 108:9, God’s Dominion Over the Nations
Psalm 108:9, “Moab is my washpot, over Edom will I cast out my shoe, over Philistia will I triumph.”
God’s dominion does not stop with Israel. He now speaks concerning the surrounding nations. “Moab is my washpot.” A washpot was a vessel used for washing, including the washing of feet. This is a picture of humiliation and servitude. Moab, known for pride, would be reduced to low service under the sovereign rule of God.
Moab had a long and complicated relationship with Israel, but often stood as an enemy or rival. David conquered Moab.
2 Samuel 8:2, “And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground, even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.”
God says, “Over Edom will I cast out my shoe.” Shoes were associated with dirt and lowliness. To cast a shoe over Edom is a gesture of contempt and domination. Edom was descended from Esau and was often hostile toward Israel. Edom was also known for pride.
Obadiah 1:3, “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?”
God’s answer is clear. He will bring Edom down. The proud nation dwelling in rocky strongholds is still beneath the authority of the LORD. David also conquered Edom.
2 Samuel 8:14, “And he put garrisons in Edom, throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.”
“Over Philistia will I triumph.” The Philistines were long standing enemies of Israel, from the days of Samson and Saul into David’s reign. David, by God’s help, subdued them.
2 Samuel 8:1, “And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.”
Psalm 108:9 teaches that the LORD is not merely Israel’s God in the sense of being limited to Israel. He is God over Moab, Edom, Philistia, and all nations. He humbles the proud, subdues enemies, and triumphs over opposition.
This is also a reminder that political and military realities are under divine sovereignty. Nations rise and fall under the hand of God. Their pride does not protect them. Their fortified cities do not save them. Their hostility to God’s people does not succeed unless God permits it for His purposes.
Psalm 108:10 to Psalm 108:13, Trust in God and the Help He Will Bring
Psalm 108:10, “Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?”
Psalm 108:11, “Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?”
Psalm 108:12, “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.”
Psalm 108:13, “Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.”
David now brings the issue to the battlefield. “Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?” The strong city likely refers to an Edomite fortress, possibly Petra or another fortified city. Edom was known for difficult terrain and strong defensive positions. Humanly speaking, such cities could appear nearly impossible to conquer.
David asks the right question. The issue is not merely strategy, numbers, weapons, or courage. The issue is, who will lead us there? Who will bring victory where the enemy appears secure?
Verse 11 says, “Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?” David recognizes that Israel had experienced defeat or divine displeasure. He does not pretend that everything has gone well. He acknowledges that God had cast them off in some sense, meaning He had withdrawn visible favor and allowed defeat or trouble.
This is honest theology. God’s people must not explain away defeat as though it has no spiritual significance. When God does not go out with the armies, no amount of human strength can secure victory. Israel’s hope has never rested in numbers alone. Her hope rests in the presence and favor of the LORD.
David asks God to go forth with their hosts. This is the necessary condition for victory. Armies may march, commanders may plan, soldiers may fight, but without God the effort is vain.
Verse 12 says, “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.” This is one of the great statements of biblical dependence. David had brave men. He knew military skill. He understood leadership, weapons, terrain, courage, and strategy. Yet he also knew that the help of man is vain when God is not with His people.
This does not mean human action has no place. David does not say, “We will do nothing.” He says human help is vain apart from God. Man’s strength must be subordinated to divine help. Strategy without God is vanity. Courage without God is presumption. Alliances without God are empty. Numbers without God are worthless.
Scripture repeatedly teaches this principle.
Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
Psalm 127:1, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it, except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”
Verse 13 gives the answer, “Through God we shall do valiantly.” This is not passivity. David does not say, “God will do everything while we sit still.” He says, “Through God we shall do valiantly.” God’s help strengthens human obedience, courage, and action. The people will fight, but they will fight through God. They will act, but their strength will come from the Lord.
This is the biblical balance. Dependence upon God does not produce laziness. It produces courage. Divine sovereignty is not an excuse for human inaction. It is the foundation for valiant action.
“For he it is that shall tread down our enemies.” The final victory belongs to God. Israel may fight valiantly, but God treads down the enemies. David understands that the battle must be fought by men whose confidence is in the LORD, and the triumph must be credited to the LORD.
Psalm 108 ends with confidence, not because the enemy is weak, but because God is strong. The strong city may stand. Edom may boast. Philistia may resist. Moab may be proud. Human help may be vain. But through God, His people shall do valiantly.
Psalm 108 teaches that Scripture can be brought forward into present battles, praise should precede petition, the heart must be fixed on God, public praise should reach the nations, God’s mercy and truth are higher than the heavens, deliverance rests on God’s right hand, the LORD rules Israel and the nations, proud enemies are brought low, human help is vain without God, and through God His people can act with courage while trusting Him for the victory.
