Psa 108:4 | KingComments | STEP | After the return from exile described in the previous psalm, the remnant will multiply greatly ( ; cf. ). The distress in which the remnant has been in the great tribulation will be answered by the LORD by giving Israel the full inheritance as He promised it to Abraham ( ). in this psalm describe the expansion of Israel’s borders to the river Euphrates to accommodate this population growth. This psalm is composed of the end of Psalm 57 ( ; ) and the end of Psalm 60 ( ; ). The fact that the two parts are brought together here in one psalm means that there is a connection between the two parts. The first part is a song of praise to God for His lovingkindness and faithfulness ( ). In the second part, we hear God’s response to it, which He gives in His sanctuary. He declares His dominion over all nations, a right He will claim through His people ( ). The result is that His glory will be above all the earth, which the remnant, His beloved, have asked for ( ). Both Psalm 57 and Psalm 60, from which this ‘mosaic’ psalm is composed, are written by David. There is a difference, however: in Psalm 57 we read “Lord”, Adonai ( ), while Psalm 108 speaks of “LORD”, Yahweh ( ). Psalm 57 is in the second book of psalms. That book describes that the remnant has fled abroad and is in exile, as it were. Therefore, the name LORD, Yahweh, is missing. Psalm 108 is in the fifth book of psalms. In it we see the remnant who have returned to the promised land where the LORD is present. Therefore, it says here LORD, Yahweh, instead of Lord, Adonai. Psalm 57 and Psalm 60 speak of the ways of God, with the first half of each psalm containing the exercises and trials, and the second half the results. Psalm 108 takes from both psalms only the second half because in this ‘Deuteronomy-psalm’ the experiences of the wilderness journey, the trials, are all over. The remnant is now looking forward to the realm of peace. For “a Song” ( ) see at Psalm 65:1 and Psalm 92:1. For “a Psalm of David” see at Psalm 3:1. This is the first psalm of the fifteen psalms in this fifth book of Psalms that have David’s name in the heading. After contemplating the many lovingkindnesses of the LORD about which the psalmist wrote in the previous psalm ( ), the heart has come to rest ( ). His “heart is steadfast”, it is ready, it is able to sing, yes, sing praises to the glory of God. The glory [“my soul” is literally “my glory”] he has received from God as king over His people is not to his own glory, but is to the glory of God. It is the response to the exhortation in Psalm 107 to praise the LORD because of His lovingkindness and faithfulness. He proceeds to do so with a song of praise ( ) accompanied by harp and lyre ( ). A new day or a new period has begun in his life ( ). Psalm 57 has two sections: one is about ‘going to sleep’ ( ) and one is about ‘waking up’ ( ). As mentioned, Psalm 108 only takes up the second part, which is the part about the dawn, a new day. The night of exile is over, “the sun of righteousness” has risen ( ), the new day has arrived. He wants to begin that new day, that new period, with a song accompanied by “harp and lyre”. He speaks to these instruments to awake, to break their silence. During the exile, the remnant hung their harps on the willows ( ). But that time has passed, and now they can make their euphonious tones heard. With this, he wants to, as it were, “awaken the dawn”. It is a warm welcome to the shining morning light of the new day ( ). That new day dawns not only in his life and for his people, but also for the nations ( ; ). The thanksgiving to the LORD must also sound “among the peoples”. The praises he sings to the LORD must also be heard “among the nations” (cf. ). This will be so in the realm of peace. The occasion for these expressions of joy – shown by the word “for” – are God’s “lovingkindness” and “truth” ( ). The lovingkindness of God is “great”, that is, extensive and high. It does not only go to the heavens, but “ above the heavens”. The psalmist comes to this conclusion because he considered the lovingkindnesses of the LORD ( ). Then he discovered that the LORD’s lovingkindness is so great that it is higher than the heavens. We see this lovingkindness in the Lord Jesus. He “ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things” ( ). Directly attached to His lovingkindness is again His truth. His lovingkindness always goes together with His truth, with faithfulness to His truth. His truth reaches to the skies or the clouds. The clouds are ruled by Him. They bring blessing where He wants and judgment where it is needed. From the assurance of the exaltedness of God ( ), the psalmist asks God to show His great lovingkindness and truth by delivering His people. In doing so, the world will see His exaltation ( ). The psalmist asks God to exalt Himself, that is, to act in accordance with it ( ). He asks this not primarily in view of his own need, although that aspect also plays a role, as the next verse indicates, but so that God’s honor or glory will be visible “above all the earth”. The only real source of comfort is the awareness that the well-being of the universe and of His people depends on God. God’s lovingkindness and truth are more important to the universe and to us than the success of our plans, our health, our prosperity, or our lives. If that is our first thought, we are then given the assurance that He cares about our fate on earth and will provide for deliverance and salvation, as we hear in the next verse. When God’s glory is over all the earth, it means the end of all enmity against God and His beloved ( ). The psalmist speaks to God of His people as “Your beloved” (cf. ; ). He appeals to God from the awareness that God loves His people. God will deliver His beloved when He exalts above the heavens in His lovingkindness and truth. Then His power, of which His right hand speaks, becomes manifest for the salvation of His people and the answer to the prayer of His own in their distress is given.

‏ Psalms 108:4

Introduction

After the return from exile described in the previous psalm, the remnant will multiply greatly (Isa 49:19-21; cf. Eze 36:37-38). The distress in which the remnant has been in the great tribulation will be answered by the LORD by giving Israel the full inheritance as He promised it to Abraham (Gen 15:18-21). Psa 108:7b-9 in this psalm describe the expansion of Israel’s borders to the river Euphrates to accommodate this population growth.

This psalm is composed of the end of Psalm 57 (Psa 108:1-5; Psa 57:7-11) and the end of Psalm 60 (Psa 108:6-13; Psa 60:5-12). The fact that the two parts are brought together here in one psalm means that there is a connection between the two parts. The first part is a song of praise to God for His lovingkindness and faithfulness (Psa 108:4). In the second part, we hear God’s response to it, which He gives in His sanctuary. He declares His dominion over all nations, a right He will claim through His people (Psa 108:13). The result is that His glory will be above all the earth, which the remnant, His beloved, have asked for (Psa 108:5-6).

Both Psalm 57 and Psalm 60, from which this ‘mosaic’ psalm is composed, are written by David. There is a difference, however: in Psalm 57 we read “Lord”, Adonai (Psa 57:9), while Psalm 108 speaks of “LORD”, Yahweh (Psa 108:3).

Psalm 57 is in the second book of psalms. That book describes that the remnant has fled abroad and is in exile, as it were. Therefore, the name LORD, Yahweh, is missing. Psalm 108 is in the fifth book of psalms. In it we see the remnant who have returned to the promised land where the LORD is present. Therefore, it says here LORD, Yahweh, instead of Lord, Adonai.

Psalm 57 and Psalm 60 speak of the ways of God, with the first half of each psalm containing the exercises and trials, and the second half the results. Psalm 108 takes from both psalms only the second half because in this ‘Deuteronomy-psalm’ the experiences of the wilderness journey, the trials, are all over. The remnant is now looking forward to the realm of peace.

Praise and Prayer

For “a Song” (Psa 108:1a) see at Psalm 65:1 and Psalm 92:1.

For “a Psalm of David” see at Psalm 3:1.

This is the first psalm of the fifteen psalms in this fifth book of Psalms that have David’s name in the heading.

After contemplating the many lovingkindnesses of the LORD about which the psalmist wrote in the previous psalm (Psa 107:43), the heart has come to rest (Psa 108:1b). His “heart is steadfast”, it is ready, it is able to sing, yes, sing praises to the glory of God. The glory [“my soul” is literally “my glory”] he has received from God as king over His people is not to his own glory, but is to the glory of God. It is the response to the exhortation in Psalm 107 to praise the LORD because of His lovingkindness and faithfulness. He proceeds to do so with a song of praise (Psa 108:3) accompanied by harp and lyre (Psa 108:2).

A new day or a new period has begun in his life (Psa 108:2). Psalm 57 has two sections: one is about ‘going to sleep’ (Psa 57:2-7) and one is about ‘waking up’ (Psa 57:8-11). As mentioned, Psalm 108 only takes up the second part, which is the part about the dawn, a new day. The night of exile is over, “the sun of righteousness” has risen (Mal 4:2), the new day has arrived.

He wants to begin that new day, that new period, with a song accompanied by “harp and lyre”. He speaks to these instruments to awake, to break their silence. During the exile, the remnant hung their harps on the willows (Psa 137:2). But that time has passed, and now they can make their euphonious tones heard. With this, he wants to, as it were, “awaken the dawn”. It is a warm welcome to the shining morning light of the new day (Pro 4:18).

That new day dawns not only in his life and for his people, but also for the nations (Psa 108:3; Mal 1:11). The thanksgiving to the LORD must also sound “among the peoples”. The praises he sings to the LORD must also be heard “among the nations” (cf. Eze 36:35-36). This will be so in the realm of peace.

The occasion for these expressions of joy – shown by the word “for” – are God’s “lovingkindness” and “truth” (Psa 108:4). The lovingkindness of God is “great”, that is, extensive and high. It does not only go to the heavens, but “above the heavens”. The psalmist comes to this conclusion because he considered the lovingkindnesses of the LORD (Psa 107:43). Then he discovered that the LORD’s lovingkindness is so great that it is higher than the heavens. We see this lovingkindness in the Lord Jesus. He “ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things” (Eph 4:10).

Directly attached to His lovingkindness is again His truth. His lovingkindness always goes together with His truth, with faithfulness to His truth. His truth reaches to the skies or the clouds. The clouds are ruled by Him. They bring blessing where He wants and judgment where it is needed.

From the assurance of the exaltedness of God (Psa 99:2), the psalmist asks God to show His great lovingkindness and truth by delivering His people. In doing so, the world will see His exaltation (Psa 108:3). The psalmist asks God to exalt Himself, that is, to act in accordance with it (Psa 108:5). He asks this not primarily in view of his own need, although that aspect also plays a role, as the next verse indicates, but so that God’s honor or glory will be visible “above all the earth”.

The only real source of comfort is the awareness that the well-being of the universe and of His people depends on God. God’s lovingkindness and truth are more important to the universe and to us than the success of our plans, our health, our prosperity, or our lives. If that is our first thought, we are then given the assurance that He cares about our fate on earth and will provide for deliverance and salvation, as we hear in the next verse.

When God’s glory is over all the earth, it means the end of all enmity against God and His beloved (Psa 108:6). The psalmist speaks to God of His people as “Your beloved” (cf. Deu 7:8; Jer 31:3). He appeals to God from the awareness that God loves His people. God will deliver His beloved when He exalts above the heavens in His lovingkindness and truth. Then His power, of which His right hand speaks, becomes manifest for the salvation of His people and the answer to the prayer of His own in their distress is given.