October 1, 2024
Valiant. What's the big deal?
Psalm 108
Nicole Sims
Big Book Idea
Thinking and feeling God's way.
Key Verse | Psalm 108:11-12
Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
Oh grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
Psalm 108
With God We Shall Do Valiantly
A Song. A Psalm of David.
1
My heart is steadfast, O God!
I will sing and make melody with all my being!
1
108:1
Hebrew with my glory
2
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
3
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
4
For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
5
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
6
That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer me!
7
God has promised in his holiness:
2
108:7
Or sanctuary
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Valley of Succoth.
8
Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet,
Judah my scepter.
9
Moab is my washbasin;
upon Edom I cast my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
10
Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
11
Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
12
Oh grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
13
With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.
Table of Contents
Introduction to The Psalms
Timeline
Author and Date
Individual psalms come from diverse periods of Israel’s history, but at every stage they served as the songbook of God’s people. David wrote about half of the Psalms. His role as king was more than that of a ruler. He was to represent and even embody the people, and their well-being was tied to his faithfulness. David, then, writes as a representative, and the readers must discern whether the emphasis of a psalm is more on his role as ruler or more on his role as ideal Israelite, in which he is an example for all. The historical occasions mentioned in the psalm titles help the reader see how faith applies to real-life situations.
Key Themes
The Psalter is fundamentally the hymnbook of God’s people. It takes the basic themes of OT theology and turns them into song:
- Monotheism. The one God, Maker and Ruler of all, will vindicate his goodness and justice in his own time. Everyone must know and love this God, whose purity, power, wisdom, faithfulness, and unceasing love are breathtakingly beautiful.
- Creation and fall. Though God made man with dignity and purpose, all people since the fall are beset with sins and weaknesses that only God’s grace can heal.
- Election and covenant. The one true God chose a people for himself and bound himself to them by his covenant. This covenant expressed God’s intention to save his people, and through them to bring light to the world.
- Covenant membership. In his covenant, God offers grace to his people: forgiveness of their sins, the shaping of their lives to reflect his own glory, and a part to play as light to the Gentiles. Each member of God’s people is responsible to believe God’s promises and to grow in obeying his commands. Those who do this enjoy the full benefits of God’s love and find delight in knowing him. The well-being of God’s people as a whole affects the well-being of each member. Each one shares the joys and sorrows of the others. When believers suffer, they should not seek revenge but should pray. They can be confident that God will make all things right in his own time.
- Eschatology. The story of God’s people is headed toward a glorious future, in which all kinds of people will come to know the Lord. The personal faithfulness of God’s people contributes to his ultimate purpose. The Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, will lead his people in the great task of bringing light to the Gentiles.
Types of Psalms
The Psalms can be identified according to some basic categories:
Laments, which lay a troubled situation before the Lord, asking him for help. There are community (Psalm 12) and individual (Psalm 13) laments. This category is the largest by far, including up to a third of all Psalms.
Hymns of praise, which call God’s people to admire his great attributes and deeds. Examples include Psalms 8; 93; and 145.
Hymns of thanksgiving. As with laments, there are community (Psalm 9) and individual (Psalm 30) thanksgiving psalms.
Hymns celebrating God’s law (Psalm 119).
Wisdom psalms (Psalms 1; 37), which reflect themes from the Wisdom Books (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon).
Songs of confidence, which enable worshipers to deepen their trust in God amid difficult circumstances (Psalm 23).
Royal psalms, which present the Davidic monarchy as the vehicle of blessing for God’s people. Some of these are prayers (Psalm 20), some are thanksgivings (Psalm 21). All relate to the Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, either by setting a pattern (Psalms 20–21) or by portraying the king’s reign in such a way that only the Messiah can completely fulfill it (Psalms 2; 72), or by focusing on the future (Psalm 110).
Historical psalms, which take lessons from the history of God’s dealings with his people (Psalm 78).
Prophetic hymns, which echo the Prophets, calling people to covenant faithfulness (Psalm 81).
Structure
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
Fact: What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God?
What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God? The Psalms were the songbook of the people of God when they gathered for worship.
Fact: What is a psalm of lament?
What is a psalm of lament? The main purpose of a psalm of lament is to tell the Lord about a difficult situation, to ask him for his help, and to praise him for helping. Some laments are community, congregational psalms. Others are individual, personal laments. One third of all the Psalms are psalms of lament.
Fact: What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel?
What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel? The “enemies” mentioned in the Psalms (e.g., 18:17) were people hostile to the faith of God’s people. Sometimes they expressed their hatred by physically attacking the people of Israel, while other times they merely rejoiced when Israel faced misfortunes.
Fact: Selah
What does Selah mean? Although the word Selah is found 39 times in the book of Psalms, its exact meaning is uncertain. Most scholars believe it is a musical term or a term to be used by a worship leader, possibly to mark a pause.
Fact: Snares
Snares (38:12) were traps used to catch birds and animals. Some snares used ropes or nets that would be triggered as soon as the bait was touched. Pits disguised with sticks and leaves were also used as snares. In the Psalms, snares serve as symbols of danger or death at the hands of the wicked.
Fact: A helpful guide
A helpful guide. The writers of the Psalms understood the importance of constant communication with God. They knew that God would hear their prayers, and they trusted him to act on their behalf. Believers today can benefit greatly by patterning their prayers after specific psalms.
Fact: “Upon Edom I cast my shoe”
“Upon Edom I cast my shoe” (108:9). In ancient times, people would sometimes lay claim to a parcel of land by walking its boundaries and then offering the shoes they had worn as their title of ownership. Here, the Lord is claiming Edom as his own.
Structure of Psalms
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
OT Testimony that All Are under Sin (3:9)
| Romans 3 | OT Reference |
|---|---|
| Sinful Condition | |
| v. 10, none is righteous | Ps. 14:3/53:3; Eccles. 7:20 |
| v. 11a, no one understands | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 11b, no one seeks for God | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 12, all have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one | Ps. 14:3/53:3 |
| Sinful Speech (note progression from throat to tongue to lips) | |
| v. 13a, b, their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive | Ps. 5:10, Septuagint (English, 5:9) |
| v. 13c, the venom of asps is under their lips | Ps. 140:3 |
| v. 14, their mouth is full of curses and bitterness | Ps. 10:7 |
| Sinful Action | |
| v. 15, their feet are swift to shed blood | Prov. 1:16/Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 16, in their paths are ruin and misery | Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 17, and the way of peace they have not known | Isa. 59:8 |
| Summary Statement | |
| v. 18, there is no fear of God before their eyes | Ps. 36:1 |
Ps. 108:1–4 See 57:7–10. The opening section expresses confidence (my heart is steadfast). The basis for the confidence is God’s steadfast love and faithfulness (Ex. 34:6).
Ps. 108:5–6 The next section is a general prayer, be exalted, with a more specific plea that your beloved ones may be delivered.
Fact: “Upon Edom I cast my shoe”
“Upon Edom I cast my shoe” (108:9). In ancient times, people would sometimes lay claim to a parcel of land by walking its boundaries and then offering the shoes they had worn as their title of ownership. Here, the Lord is claiming Edom as his own.
Ps. 108:7–9 As with 60:6–8, these verses seem to recall an oracle (God has promised) that gives God’s plan for Israel’s place in the world.
Fact: “Upon Edom I cast my shoe”
“Upon Edom I cast my shoe” (108:9). In ancient times, people would sometimes lay claim to a parcel of land by walking its boundaries and then offering the shoes they had worn as their title of ownership. Here, the Lord is claiming Edom as his own.
Psalm Ps. 108. It seems that David composed this community lament using material from two other psalms. Verses 1–5 are from 57:7–11, and 108:6–13 are from 60:5–12. In the midst of a dangerous situation, the singers express their confident hope of thanking God “among the peoples” (108:3).
Ps. 108:10–13 This comes from 60:9–12. Part of the background of Psalm 60 is a campaign against Edom.
S3:193 Psalm 108
Listen NowDive Deeper | Psalm 108
Texans remember the valiant cry from the Alamo: "I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country—Victory or Death." (Letter from Lt. Col. William Barret Travis, February 4, 1836)
Americans remember the valiant last words of Nathan Hale: "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." These words inspire us because these people were dedicated to causes greater than themselves and willing to pay with their lives for those beliefs.
Psalm 108 shows the psalmist David was dedicated to God's plan. As King David was fighting the inhabitants of the Promised Land, God's victory plan was promised, but each battle was not. When the Israelites acted unfaithfully, they lost. When they trusted the Lord's plans, He won. But as they fought, they needed to remember the Lord's faithfulness and love instead of their despair from past losses.
We are engaged in spiritual battles and must remind ourselves that God delivers us from enemies and makes us valiant. The Lord is loving and faithful. Today, He gives the Holy Spirit to valiant parents who trust in His Son as they patiently care for children. He gives courage to valiant students who share their faith in Jesus with their peers. He gives purpose and healing to valiant young adults who turn from selfish ambition or self-medicating and trust in Jesus. He gives a good conscience to valiant businesspeople who value integrity and do everything as service to the Lord. He gives wisdom to valiant older men and women who keep serving and loving those who see their beautiful example of a life of faith in Christ. I have seen all these faithful followers living out their lives valiantly in our community.
We can choose to live a valiant life in all circumstances because we know and trust God. We believe in His greater purpose for our lives and are willing to pay a price for it. The only question is whether we will give the one life we have to follow Him in the battle and trust Him with the outcome.
This month's memory verse
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
– Proverbs 10:9
Discussion Questions
1. When have you seen God show His love and faithfulness in your past history? Consider journaling, collecting items that remind you of past victories, and sharing your own story of grace with others as a way to strengthen your ability to see how God has been loving and faithful and present in your life.
2. What past losses are holding you back from trusting God with your future? Are there times when you don't think or feel you have been battling valiantly? Tell it to Jesus. He already knows, and He loves you (1 John 1:9). If you need a community of faith to help you examine your past, consider joining re:generation, Watermark's Recovery Ministry. There you will find that we all have real and hard things that try to drag us away from God, but God's grace in our lives brings healing and hope and helps us to trust His plans for us.
3. What spiritual battle are you currently fighting? Have you shared your battle with others in your family of faith who can help you to fight valiantly and remember that a life knowing and serving God is worth the battle? God has plans for you (Ephesians 2:10), and He allows you to know Him and tell others how to know Him (Matthew 28:19-20). You already have a great purpose that is worth investing in for your whole life.
4. Remember our greater cause. It is not a bigger bank account, having the right address, going viral on the internet, or any of the things the world tells us to fight to obtain. It is knowing King Jesus and being His ambassador. Consider spending time writing a personal or family mission statement to remind you of the greater cause you choose to serve valiantly.
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