Chapter Overview
Summary
Psalm 108 (MT) / Psalm 107 (LXX) is a Davidic composite-psalm — a liturgical joining of Ps 57:7–11 (vv. 1–5) with Ps 60:5–12 (vv. 6–13). The two-part structure combines praise and petition: confident-praise (from Ps 57's confidence-in-God) joined to distressed-petition-for-Edom-conquest (from Ps 60's territorial-crisis). The composite illustrates how the Psalter's poetic-materials were re-combined for later liturgical-use.
Notable Variants
108:1–5 // Ps 57:7–11; 108:6–13 // Ps 60:5–12; the composite-liturgical-construction pattern.
Structural Notes
MT Ps 108 = LXX Ps 107. 13 verses (MT/LXX), 13 verses (English). Composite of Ps 57:7–11 + Ps 60:5–12.
A song. A psalm of David.
Superscription tracks MT.
My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music — even my glory will.
'My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being!' tracks MT. // Ps 57:7. The 'steadfast heart' opening.
Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
'Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!' tracks MT. // Ps 57:8. 'AWAKE THE DAWN' — praise-rouses-the-morning.
I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD; I will make music to you among the nations.
'I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations' tracks MT. // Ps 57:9.
For your faithful love is higher than the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
'For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds' tracks MT. // Ps 57:10.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God, and let your glory be over all the earth.
'Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!' tracks MT. // Ps 57:11.
That your beloved ones may be rescued, save with your right hand and answer me.
'That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer me!' tracks MT. // Ps 60:5. TRANSITION-POINT: the psalm shifts to the Ps 60 material.
God has spoken in His holiness: 'I will exult! I will divide Shechem and measure out the Valley of Succoth.
'God has promised in his holiness: With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth' tracks MT. // Ps 60:6.
Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah is my scepter.
'Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah my scepter' tracks MT. // Ps 60:7.
Moab is my washbasin; on Edom I hurl my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.'
'Moab is my washpot; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph' tracks MT. // Ps 60:8.
Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?
'Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?' tracks MT. // Ps 60:9.
Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not march out with our armies, O God.
'Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies' tracks MT. // Ps 60:10.
Give us help against the foe, for human help is worthless.
'Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!' tracks MT. // Ps 60:11.
With God we will act valiantly; He will trample our adversaries.
'With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes' tracks MT. // Ps 60:12. Closing with human-and-divine cooperation — God-treads-down-foes while humans do-valiantly.