Psalm 108
For the first time in almost two weeks we are reading a short Psalm in its entirety instead of having the Psalm broken down into readings over a few days. Surprisingly, however, today’s Psalm could easily be split into two parts, 1-5 and 6-13. Those first few verses, in particular, constitute a song well known to some of us. It’s almost impossible to read those verses as text without singing the lyrics! An online search said that this song in the Anglican Hymnal 1982, but we don’t have that book here and I could not find it online to verify that claim. Carol and I know these verses as sung by Maranatha Music.
Give us help against the enemy, for deliverance by man is worthless. (v. 12, NASB) Here David is writing about Israel’s battles against foreign foes, but we can easily apply these words to our everyday lives. All too often we strive in our own efforts, using our own guidance, our own resources to solve a difficult problem or to work out a difficult situation. Our mantra seems to be, “When all else fails, pray!” God is ever at hand waiting to guide us. We have but to ask.
Like Fred, I have a hard time reading Ps. 108:1-5 without hearing that same song in my head. For those unfamiliar with it, have a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FwvEBULwIQ . But if it seems like we’ve already read the last half of the psalm earlier in the year, you would be right. Psalm 108:7-13 is virtually identical to Psalm 60:6-12, which we read on June 9. I don’t have any particular personal insight into those verses — nothing you can’t find in various commentaries or study Bibles — but I find the repetition intriguing. Whenever something is repeated in Scripture, we should pay attention…
Thanks for the video link, John.
It was good to take a few minutes today, close my eyes, and let this song wash over me and into the heart of God…