Psalms 108
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The explicit application of this Psalm to our Saviour, by Him (Mat 22:42-45) and by the apostles (Act 2:34; Co1 15:25; Heb 1:13), and their frequent reference to its language and purport (Eph 1:20-22; Phi 2:9-11; Heb 10:12-13), leave no doubt of its purely prophetic character. Not only was there nothing in the position or character, personal or official, of David or any other descendant, to justify a reference to either, but utter severance from the royal office of all priestly functions (so clearly assigned the subject of this Psalm) positively forbids such a reference. The Psalm celebrates the exaltation of Christ to the throne of an eternal and increasing kingdom, and a perpetual priesthood (Zac 6:13), involving the subjugation of His enemies and the multiplication of His subjects, and rendered infallibly certain by the word and oath of Almighty God. (Psa 110:1-7) The Lord said--literally, "A saying of the Lord," (compare Psa 36:1), a formula, used in prophetic or other solemn or express declarations. my Lord--That the Jews understood this term to denote the Messiah their traditions show, and Christ's mode of arguing on such an assumption (Mat 22:44) also proves. Sit . . . at my right hand--not only a mark of honor (Kg1 2:19), but also implied participation of power (Psa 45:9; Mar 16:19; Eph 1:20). Sit--as a king (Psa 29:10), though the position rather than posture is intimated (compare Act 7:55-56). until I make, &c.--The dominion of Christ over His enemies, as commissioned by God, and entrusted with all power (Mat 28:18) for their subjugation, will assuredly be established (Co1 15:24-28). This is neither His government as God, nor that which, as the incarnate Saviour, He exercises over His people, of whom He will ever be Head. thine enemies thy footstool--an expres…
Open source ↗O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise,.... From hence to Psa 108:6 the words are taken out of Psa 57:7, which see. Even with my glory; my tongue; in Psa 57:8, it is read, "awake up my glory". See Gill on Psa 57:7,
Open source ↗This first half is taken from Ps. 57:8-12. The repetition of confident is my heart in Psa 57:1-11 is here omitted; and in place of it the "my glory" of the exclamation, awake my glory, is taken up to "I will sing and will harp" as a more minute definition of the subject (vid., on Psa 3:5): He will do it, yea,his soul with all its godlike powers shall do it. Jahve in Psa 108:4 is transformed out of the Adonaj; and Waw copul. is inserted both before Psa 108:4 and Psa 108:6, contrary to Psa 57:1-11. מעל, Psa 108:5 (as in Est 3:1), would be a pleasing change for עד if Psa 108:5 followed Psa 108:5 and the definition of magnitude did not retrograde instead of heightening. Moreover Psa 36:6; Jer 51:9 (cf. על in Psa 113:4; Psa 148:13) favour עד in opposition to מעל.
Open source ↗We may here learn how to praise God from the example of one who was master of the art. 1. We must praise God with fixedness of heart. Our heart must be employed in the duty (else we make nothing of it) and engaged to the duty (Psa 108:1): O God! my heart is fixed, and then I will sing and give praise. Wandering straggling thoughts must be gathered in, and kept close to the business; for they must be told that here is work enough for them all. 2. We must praise God with freeness of expression: I will praise him with my glory, that is, with my tongue. Our tongue is our glory, and never more so than when it is employed in praising God. When the heart is inditing this good matter our tongue must be as the pen of a ready writer, Psa 45:1. David's skill in music was his glory, it made him famous, and this should be consecrated to the praise of God; and therefore it follows, Awake my psaltery and harp. Whatever gift we excel in we must praise God with. 3. We must praise God with fervency of affection, and must stir up ourselves to do it, that it may be done in a lively manner and not carelessly (Psa 108:2): Awake, psaltery and harp; let it not be done with a dull and sleepy tune, but let the airs be all lively. I myself will awake early to do it, with all that is within me, and all little enough. Warm devotions honour God. 4. We must praise God publicly, as those that are not ashamed to own our obligations to him and our thankful sense of his favours, but desire that others also may be in like manner affected with the divine goodness (Psa 108:3): I will praise thee among the people of the Jews; nay, I will sing to thee among the nations of the earth. Whatever company we are in we must take all occasions to speak well of God; and we must not be shy of singing psalms, though our…
Open source ↗Ps 108 This psalm combines two excerpts from David’s other psalms (cp. 57:5, 7-11; 60:5-12).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
שִׁיר (shîyr, H7892) — a song; abstractly, singing מִזְמוֹר (mizmôwr, H4210) — properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… שִׁיר (shîyr, H7891) — to sing זָמַר (zâmar, H2167) — play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and… כָּבוֹד (kâbôwd, H3519) — properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
Open source ↗עוּר (ʻûwr, H5782) — to wake (literally or figuratively) נֶבֶל (nebel, H5035) — a skin-bag for liquids (from collapsing when empty); hence, a vase (as similar in shape… כִּנּוֹר (kinnôwr, H3658) — a harp שַׁחַר (shachar, H7837) — dawn (literal, figurative or adverbial)
Open source ↗יָדָה (yâdâh, H3034) — physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… זָמַר (zâmar, H2167) — play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and… לְאֹם (lᵉʼôm, H3816) — a community
Open source ↗חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… אֶמֶת (ʼemeth, H571) — stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness שַׁחַק (shachaq, H7834) — a powder (as beaten small); by analogy, a thin vapor; by extension, the firmament
Open source ↗רוּם (rûwm, H7311) — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively) אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… כָּבוֹד (kâbôwd, H3519) — properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗יְדִיד (yᵉdîyd, H3039) — loved חָלַץ (châlats, H2502) — to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflex.) to depart; by implication, to… יָשַׁע (yâshaʻ, H3467) — properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to… יָמִין (yâmîyn, H3225) — the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more… עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;…
Open source ↗אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity עָלַז (ʻâlaz, H5937) — to jump for joy, i.e. exult חָלַק (châlaq, H2505) — to be smooth (figuratively); by implication (as smooth stones were used for lots) to… שְׁכֶם (Shᵉkem, H7927) — Shekem, a place in Palestine מָדַד (mâdad, H4058) — properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line);… עֵמֶק (ʻêmeq, H6010) — a vale (i.e. broad depression) סֻכּוֹת (Çukkôwth, H5523) — Succoth, the name of a place in Egypt and of three in Palestine
Open source ↗גִּלְעָד (Gilʻâd, H1568) — Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites מְנַשֶּׁה (Mᵉnashsheh, H4519) — Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory אֶפְרַיִם (ʼEphrayim, H669) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory מָעוֹז (mâʻôwz, H4581) — a fortified place; figuratively, a defence רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of… יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… חָקַק (châqaq, H2710) — properly, to hack, i.e. engrave (Judges 5:14, to be a scribe simply); by implication, to…
Open source ↗מוֹאָב (Môwʼâb, H4124) — Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants רַחַץ (rachats, H7366) — a bath סִיר (çîyr, H5518) — a pot; also a thorn (as springing up rapidly); by implication, a hook אֱדֹם (ʼĔdôm, H123) — Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him שָׁלַךְ (shâlak, H7993) — to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively) נַעַל (naʻal, H5275) — properly, a sandal tongue; by extension a sandal or slipper (sometimes as a symbol of… פְּלֶשֶׁת (Pᵉlesheth, H6429) — Pelesheth, a region of Syria רוּעַ (rûwaʻ, H7321) — to mar (especially by breaking); figuratively, to split the ears (with sound), i.e. shout…
Open source ↗יָבַל (yâbal, H2986) — properly, to flow; causatively, to bring (especially with pomp) מִבְצָר (mibtsâr, H4013) — a fortification, castle, or fortified city; figuratively, a defender עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… נָחָה (nâchâh, H5148) — to guide; by implication, to transport (into exile, or as colonists) אֱדֹם (ʼĔdôm, H123) — Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him
Open source ↗אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… זָנַח (zânach, H2186) — reject, forsake, fail יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);…
Open source ↗יָהַב (yâhab, H3051) — to give (whether literal or figurative); generally, to put; imperatively (reflexive) come עֶזְרָה (ʻezrâh, H5833) — aid צַר (tsar, H6862) — narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble ;… שָׁוְא (shâvᵉʼ, H7723) — evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively… תְּשׁוּעָה (tᵉshûwʻâh, H8668) — rescue (literal or figurative, persons, national or spiritual) אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
Open source ↗אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application חַיִל (chayil, H2428) — probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue,… בּוּס (bûwç, H947) — to trample (literally or figuratively) צַר (tsar, H6862) — narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble ;…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
My mouth will declare Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot know their full measure.
God arises. His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him flee His presence.
My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your splendor all day long.
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.
that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks forever.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell securely.
I give You thanks with all my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises.