Psalms 108
Chuck Smith on Psalms 108
Verse by verse, the C2000, 1979 to 1985 and C3000, 1985 to 1999 series. Permission granted by The Word For Today.
C2000 · 1979 to 1985
Chapter introduction
Psalm 108 the psalmist declares:
Verse 1
O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory (108:1).
And then he calls for praise unto the Lord with the psaltery and the harp, a couple of instruments praising the Lord in music.
Verses 2–4
I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great above the heavens (108:2-4):
Again, why do I praise God? Well, here I praise the Lord, again, for His mercy. "As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high is His mercy over those that fear Him" (Psalm 103:11).
Verses 4–7
Also praise,
that thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. [Further praise.] Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth; That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me. God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth (108:4-7).
Now here is David talking and he's talking about how God is going to give him victory and possessions. Dividing Shechem, meting out the valley of Succoth.
Verses 8–12
Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver; Moab is my washpot; and over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph. Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom? Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts? Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man (108:8-12).
All of you that are spending so much time with counselors, you might read that again. Seeking the Lord for help. And a wise counselor will always just point you to the Lord, because He is the only One that can truly help you. "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth" (Psalm 121:1-2). Vain is the help of man.
Verse 13
Through God we shall do valiantly: for it is he that shall tread down our enemies (108:13).
C3000 · 1985 to 1999
Chapter introduction
Psalm one hundred and eight is a compilation of two psalms; psalm fifty-seven and psalm sixty. Psalm fifty-seven beginning with verse seven is very similar to verse one of this psalm; verse eight, nine, ten and eleven of psalm fifty-seven are the same as the first five verses here. Psalm sixty, beginning with verse five going through verse twelve are similar or exactly alike to verse six through thirteen here in this psalm. Having covered psalm fifty-seven and psalm sixty we’ve already looked at these. However it is interesting the similarity as the psalmist is picking out psalms for the hymnal, he puts a couple of the psalms together and makes this psalm out of two of the previous psalms.
Verse 1
O GOD, my heart is fixed: (108:1).
That is something that we need, a stable commitment to the Lord. We sing “I have decided to follow Jesus” to make that kind of a commitment. Lord, my heart is fixed, I’ve set my heart on thee. I’m going to serve you Lord no matter what, my heart is fixed.
Verses 1–3
I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations (108:1-3).
I’ve determined to praise the Lord, my heart is fixed. I’m going to declare his glory and sing his praises.
Verses 4–5
For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth; (108:4-5).
A repeat of psalm fifty-seven but it’s worth while repeating. It’s a declaration, the determination of I’m going to praise God and I’m going to exalt him for his mercy and his truth.
Now beginning with verse six we have psalm sixty beginning with verse five.
Verses 6–8
That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me. God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete [measure] out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head: Judah is my lawgiver; (108:6-8).
The declaration of God’s delivering the land unto his people. The area of Shechem that became part of Ephraim, Succoth to east, Gilead on the other side of Jordan where Gilead, Manasseh and Ruben half the tribe of Manasseh settled. Ephraim, the power of the northern kingdom and Judah the lawgiver, the tribe from which the king David came.
Verse 9
Moab is my washpot; (108:9).
They were the enemy. The “washpot” is a term of scorn or derision. Moab, their enemies, is my wash basin.
over Edom will I cast out my shoe; (108:9).
The idea is the disdain for the enemies.
Verses 9–11
over Philistia [Philistines] will I triumph. Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom? Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts? (108:9-11).
Who is going to lead us? Then the prayer, Will you lead us? Will you go with us as we go out against the enemies.
Verse 12
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man (108:12).
Oh that we would learn that that we would learn to turn to God for help. How often we turn to man but vain is the help of man. You see, all of us are in the same boat. We need God’s help. In another psalm the psalmist said “Lord it’s time for you to work”. The help of man is vain.
Verse 13
Through God we shall do valiantly: (108:13).
God will lead us. Through him we will do valiantly.
for he it is that shall tread down our enemies (108:13).
The Lord is my strength, the Lord is my helper and the Lord is with me. “If God is for me, who can be against me?” So through God we will do valiantly and we shall tread down the enemies. When you take God as your fortress, as your refuge, as your strength, you can stand against all powers of darkness. Jesus said, “The gates of hell shall not prevail against his church”. You are his, you belong to him. Through our God we will do valiantly for it is he who will tread down our enemies. Oh how thankful I am that he’s on my side. The Lord is with me, I shall not fear what man can do to me.
Father we thank You again tonight for Your marvelous word and the privilege Lord of studying the word. Help us Lord that we will be doers of the word and not hearers only. That as we go home tonight, even as we go, that we will be giving thanks Lord unto You for Your goodness and for Your mercy that endures forever. Lord, help us that we might praise Thee. Fill our hearts and our lips with praises Lord, for Your goodness and Your wonderful works unto us and for us. Thank You Lord for being there when we need You. Thank You Lord for answering when we call. Thank You Lord for delivering us out of our trouble and out of our distresses because Lord we do admit that so often our trouble and our distresses come from our own disobedience and our own self-willed ways. Yet Lord You are so merciful. Your mercy endures forever and we thank You for it, in Jesus name Amen.