The Book of Psalms

Psalm 108

Psalm CVIII · Vol. II, pp. 1058–1059

1 David encourageth himself to praise God. 5 He prayeth for God's assistance according to his promise. 11 His confidence in God's help.

Margin referencesNotes ↓

A song or psalm of David.

1 O God, my^a heart is fixed;¹ I will sing and give praise, even with my ^bglory.²

B.C. cir. 1036.

1 My heart is fixed. Independent of the apostolic quotation (Ro. 15. 9), which determines the application, this very characteristic of a fixed heart would prove the speaker either to be a self-deceiver (see Je. 17. 9), or Christ. The former he cannot be—for the Spirit hath approved him; the latter he must be—for the Spirit hath so pointed him out to our discovery and confidence.—C.

a Ps.57.7-11; 103.1,2; 34.1-3; 104.34; 92.1,2.

b Ps.30.11; 138.1; 71.8,15,23,24; 145.1,5,21. Lu.1.47.

Vol. II, p. 1059

2 Awake, ^cpsaltery and harp; I myself will awake early.

A.M. cir. 2968. B.C. cir. 1036.

c Ps.33.2; 43.4; 5.3. Is.64.7.

3 I ^dwill praise thee, O LORD, among the people; and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.

d Ju.5.14. Ps.22.22,25. Zep.3.14-20. Is.11.9. Zec.8.18-23.

4 For^e thy mercy is great above the heavens; and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.³

e Ps.36.5; 89.2; 85.10. Mi.7.18-20. Ro.5.20,21. Ep.2.4-7.

3 Or, skies.

5 Be^g thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth;⁴

g Ps.8.1; 110.1. Re.11.15,17.

4 Ver. 1-5 are taken from Ps. 57. 7-11, the remainder from Ps. 60.5-12, and the whole is evidently intended to show how easily God can extract the song of joy and triumph from the strain of lamentation and complaint; for truly to him that believeth a promising God all things are possible.—C.

6 That^h thy beloved may be delivered: ⁱsave with thy right hand, and answer me.

h Ps.60.5-12. Ex.19.5,6. De.32.9.

i Ps.54.1; 35.1-3,23; 119.173; 144.7.

7 God^j hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will ^kdivide Shechem, and mete out the valley of ^lSuccoth.

j Ps.89.35,36. 1 Sa.13.14; 15.28. 2 Sa.7.8-16.

k Jos.1.6; 13.7.

l Ge.33.17. Ju.8.5.

8 Gileadⁿ is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the ^ostrength of mine head; ^pJudah is my lawgiver;

n 2 Sa.2.8,9, with 5.1,3.

o De.33.17. Ge.49.24.

p Ge.49.10. Ps.122.5.

9 Moab^q is my wash-pot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.

q 2 Sa.v.viii. Ps.60.8. 1 Ch.xiv.xviii.xx.

10 Who^r will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?

r Ps.14.7; 20.1-9; 33.16-22. 2 Ch.14.11; 20.12; 13.14.

11 Wilt not thou, O God, who ^shast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, ^tgo forth with our hosts?

s 1 Sa.xxxi. Ps.44.9. Is.12.1.

t Ex.17.11,12. De.20.4. Nu.21.2,3. 1 Sa.17.45.

12 Give^u us help from trouble; for ^vvain is the help of man.

u Ps.142.4,5; 20.1-9.

v Job 16.2. Is.2.22; 30.3,5,7; 31.1,3. Ps.33.16,17; 118.8,9.

13 Through^x God we shall do valiantly: ^yfor he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

x 2 Ch.20.12. Is.45.24. Nu.24.18. Ps.18.28-48; 118.10-16.

y 2 Sa.v.viii.x. Is.63.1-4. Ro.16.20. 2 Co.2.14.

Notes

Reflections.—Quickly God can change the lot, can change the frames, and change the songs of his people; and put high praises in the room of bitter wailings. How confidently then may saints expect to see the salvation of God! What he has promised faith can rejoice in as if already performed: and whatever difficulties be in the way, nothing is too hard for the Lord. However strong their enemies, if they are true, they shall prove more than conquerors through him that loveth them.