Psalm 108, Praise for Personal and National Protection

A song. A psalm of David.

In Book V this is the first of three psalms (108-110) by David. It consists of two pieces, an amalgamation of  Psalm 57:7-11 and  Psalm 60: 6-12. As Kidner points out, in Psalm 57 David is being hunted by Saul and at the beginning of Psalm 60 King David is recovering from an attack by soldiers of Edom. In both cases, the psalms turn to praise. Those two praise endings, first personal, then national, are collected here. 

Psalm 108:1, A steadfast decision

 My heart is steadfast, O God; 

I will sing and make music with all my soul.

The psalm begins with a statement, a decision -- David will write a song to praise God.

Psalm 108:2-6, Infinite in love

Awake, harp and lyre! 

I will awaken the dawn.

 I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations;

 I will sing of you among the peoples.

 For great is your love, higher than the heavens; 

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, 

and let your glory be over all the earth.

 Save us and help us with your right hand, 

that those you love may be delivered.

 

David gathers instruments so as to greet the dawn with praise.

The first six verses of this psalm are almost identical to Psalm 57:7-11.

Psalm 108:7-9, All the lands are mine

God has spoken from his sanctuary: 

"In triumph I will parcel out Shechem 

and measure off the Valley of Succoth.

 Gilead is mine, 

Manasseh is mine; 

Ephraim is my helmet, 

Judah my scepter.

 Moab is my washbasin, 

upon Edom I toss my sandal; 

over Philistia I shout in triumph."

God watches over the lands of Israel (Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, Judah) and has contoro over enemy lands such as Moab, Edom, Philistia. Using Moab as a washbasin or tossing a sandal at Edom are dismissive statements; those lands have no power.

Psalm 108:10-12, Have you rejected us?

 Who will bring me to the fortified city? 

Who will lead me to Edom?

 Is it not you, O God, 

you who have rejected us 

and no longer go out with our armies?

 Give us aid against the enemy, 

for the help of man is worthless.

David worries that God has rejected Israel and will no longer give them victory.

Psalm 108:13, Victory

With God we will gain the victory,

 and he will trample down our enemies.

After asking the question about rejection, David answers the question with confidence in God's plans of victory.

Verses 7-13 are identical with Psalm 60: 6-12.

Some Random Thoughts

There are visible editorial compilations in the construction of the psalter. This psalm is a combination of parts of two others. Psalm 14 and Psalm 53 are almost identical; Psalm 18 is the psalm sung in 2 Samuel 22. These, and the editorial comments at the beginnings of some psalms, give some hints at the final compilation of the psalter during the Second Temple period of Ezra and Nehemiah.

First published October 15, 2025; updated October 15, 2025