Note: This psalm poses a significant challenge for interpretation inasmuch as it is made up of two halves of two other psalms. The first part of psalm 108 is the second part of psalm 57. The second part of psalm 108 is the second part of psalm 60. Both contributory psalms, 57 and 60, have unusually detailed introductions, the first about David in a cave fleeing Saul, and the second about an incident prior to Joab’s victory over Edom when David was king. In the first, David is fleeing unjust persecution. In the second, the psalm suggests that Israel is being chastened by the Lord. Psalm 108 therefore brings together the celebrations of deliverance from two different scenarios. Interestingly the connecting sentence between the two parts begins with the repeated refrain of psalm 57 – “ Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth”. All suggestions welcome.
A Song or Psalm of David.
From Psalm 57:7-11
1 O God, my heart is fixed;
I will sing and give praise,
even with my glory.
2 Awake, psaltery and harp:
I myself will awake early.
3 I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people:
and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
4 For thy mercy is great above the heavens:
and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens:
and thy glory above all the earth;
6 That thy beloved may be delivered:
save with thy right hand, and answer me.
7 God hath spoken in his holiness;
I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem,
and mete out the valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim also is the strength of mine head;
Judah is my lawgiver;
9 Moab is my washpot;
over Edom will I cast out my shoe;
over Philistia will I triumph.
10 Who will bring me into the strong city?
who will lead me into Edom?
11 Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off?
and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?
12 Give us help from trouble:
for vain is the help of man.
13 Through God we shall do valiantly:
for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
From Psalm 60:5-12