September 30th 2021 – Psalm 108

Thu 30 Sep 2021

"A Song. A Psalm of David.

My heart is steadfast, O God!
    I will sing and make melody with all my being!
²Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awake the dawn!
³I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.
⁴For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
⁵Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth!
⁶That your beloved ones may be delivered,
    give salvation by your right hand and answer me!
⁷God has promised in his holiness:
    “With exultation I will divide up Shechem
    and portion out the Valley of Succoth.
⁸Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim is my helmet,
    Judah my sceptre.
⁹Moab is my washbasin;
    upon Edom I cast my shoe;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
¹⁰Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
¹¹Have you not rejected us, O God?
    You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
¹²Oh grant us help against the foe,
    for vain is the salvation of man!
¹³With God we shall do valiantly;
    it is he who will tread down our foes."

Psalm 108

The second part of the Psalm derives from Psalm 60, which begins with the Psalmist's reaction to an unexpected defeat, which has knocked the bottom out of his world (1-4). The prayer in 60:5, which is where this Psalm begins to borrow, is one which is full of faith and hope. 'Beloved' is a word which speaks of the covenant relationship between God and His people, and there is always confidence when that covenant is pleaded in prayer. Here, in 7 cf, is the reason for the Psalmist's heart being fixed - God has spoken, and what is unfolded in these verses is an expression of the supreme authority of God over the nations of men, over Israel and Israel's enemies alike. The final verses of the Psalm (10ff) indicate that David recognises the greatness of the task before him, in the context of his ongoing battles with his enemies. In face of the as- surance of God's unfailing promises, he nevertheless looks hard at the long haul before him, and he is asking, as it were, can God really help me here? Is He able and willing to do even this for me? This is where the Psalm speaks so graphically to us. There are times when we are 'up against it' (Psalm 57:1-4), times when we fall and fail, and are chastised by God for it (Psalm 60:1-4). But, in face of this, and in spite of it, it is still possible to be at peace, and praising Him - not cowed by danger or pressure, but spurred by it, not despondent because of failure, but baffled to fight better - because God has spoken! He has made promises concerning us, and has purposes for us. Will He lead us into battle (10, 11)? Will He go forth with us into the future? Ah, yes! His promises are sure. And since this is so, shall not our response be 'Through God we shall do valiantly'?

September 29th 2021 – Psalm 108

Wed 29 Sep 2021

“A Song. A Psalm of David. My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being!2 Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!3 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I… →

September 28th 2021 – Psalm 108

Tue 28 Sep 2021

September 27th 2021 – Psalm 107

Mon 27 Sep 2021

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever!2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the… →

September 26th 2021 – Psalm 107

Sun 26 Sep 2021

September 25th 2021 – Psalm 107

Sat 25 Sep 2021

September 24th 2021 – Psalm 106

Fri 24 Sep 2021

“Praise the Lord!Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever!2 Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise?3 Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!4 Remember… →

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