Psa 108:7 | KingComments | STEP | David and his people asked God for an answer in . Now we hear that in response “God has spoken in His holiness” ( ). It can also be translated as “God has spoken in His sanctuary”. That means that what God says will sanctify His Name. What God says is at the same time what God does. When God wanted to create light, He only had to speak. He spoke and it was there: “God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light” ( ). The LORD promised the land to Abraham ( ). If the LORD did not fulfill His promise, His Name would be profaned. This is impossible, for the LORD speaks in His holiness and also fulfills this promise. The point is that we come to know God’s view of a situation only in the sanctuary, where God dwells. There He makes His thoughts known in response to our questions. When we know how God thinks about a matter, we will exult for joy, as we read here that David does. Then despair and doubt disappear and certainty comes over the outcome of the battle. Then we hear what God has spoken. First God speaks of His right to Shechem, Succoth, Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim and Judah ( ). These areas are all in Israel. “Shechem” and “Succoth” point to the beginning of Jacob’s return to the promised land ( ). That God will “portion out” Shechem proves His right to it ( ). He will give it to whom it belongs. “Measure out” the valley of Succoth has the same meaning. God will measure the whole area and give the precisely measured area to whom it belongs, no more and no less. “Gilead” is at the other side of Jordan and “Manasseh” is partly in the land and partly at the other side of Jordan ( ). Of both Gilead and the whole of Manasseh God says: it is “Mine”. “Ephraim” represents the ten tribes and “Judah” the two tribes. Together they make up the whole land of Israel. Of Ephraim God says that he is the helmet [literally: protection] of His head which means the main part or largest part of the land, which is the northern part. Of Judah God says he is His scepter, or lawgiver (cf. ; ). From Judah His law will be taught and enforced everywhere. This will be the situation when the Messiah reigns. Next, God proclaims that He also has ownership of all the territories outside of Israel. Of these, He names “Moab”, “Edom”, and “Philistia” by name ( ). These countries represent the hostile neighboring countries. We also find these countries in Jeremiah’s prophecies of the end time (Jeremiah 47-49). God adds something to these names as well. Of Moab He says: “Moab is My washbowl.” A washbowl or laver serves to clean feet. God will use Moab to cleanse there the part of His people who will flee from the land and find refuge in Moab ( ). After the battle, the soldiers take off their shoes, wash their feet in a washbowl and throw their shoes at the defeated enemies as a sign of victory and proclaim it jubilantly. In short, victory is overwhelming and absolute. After these countries are conquered, just as in the days of the conquest of Canaan under Joshua, the land is taken possession of. And so the promise of God to Abraham is fulfilled. Of Edom He says that He shall throw His shoe over it. This means that He will subject this people to Himself (cf. ). God will rejoice over Philistia. This people have rejoiced at the victories they have won over God’s people (cf. ). The roles will be reversed when the Messiah reigns ( ).

‏ Psalms 108:7

God Has Spoken

David and his people asked God for an answer in Psa 108:6. Now we hear that in response “God has spoken in His holiness” (Psa 108:7a). It can also be translated as “God has spoken in His sanctuary”. That means that what God says will sanctify His Name. What God says is at the same time what God does. When God wanted to create light, He only had to speak. He spoke and it was there: “God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light” (Gen 1:3). The LORD promised the land to Abraham (Gen 15:18-21). If the LORD did not fulfill His promise, His Name would be profaned. This is impossible, for the LORD speaks in His holiness and also fulfills this promise.

The point is that we come to know God’s view of a situation only in the sanctuary, where God dwells. There He makes His thoughts known in response to our questions. When we know how God thinks about a matter, we will exult for joy, as we read here that David does. Then despair and doubt disappear and certainty comes over the outcome of the battle.

Then we hear what God has spoken. First God speaks of His right to Shechem, Succoth, Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim and Judah (Psa 108:7b-8). These areas are all in Israel. “Shechem” and “Succoth” point to the beginning of Jacob’s return to the promised land (Gen 33:17-18). That God will “portion out” Shechem proves His right to it (Psa 108:7b). He will give it to whom it belongs. “Measure out” the valley of Succoth has the same meaning. God will measure the whole area and give the precisely measured area to whom it belongs, no more and no less.

“Gilead” is at the other side of Jordan and “Manasseh” is partly in the land and partly at the other side of Jordan (Psa 108:8). Of both Gilead and the whole of Manasseh God says: it is “Mine”. “Ephraim” represents the ten tribes and “Judah” the two tribes. Together they make up the whole land of Israel. Of Ephraim God says that he is the helmet [literally: protection] of His head which means the main part or largest part of the land, which is the northern part. Of Judah God says he is His scepter, or lawgiver (cf. Gen 49:10; Num 21:18). From Judah His law will be taught and enforced everywhere. This will be the situation when the Messiah reigns.

Next, God proclaims that He also has ownership of all the territories outside of Israel. Of these, He names “Moab”, “Edom”, and “Philistia” by name (Psa 108:9). These countries represent the hostile neighboring countries. We also find these countries in Jeremiah’s prophecies of the end time (Jeremiah 47-49). God adds something to these names as well. Of Moab He says: “Moab is My washbowl.” A washbowl or laver serves to clean feet. God will use Moab to cleanse there the part of His people who will flee from the land and find refuge in Moab (Isa 16:4).

After the battle, the soldiers take off their shoes, wash their feet in a washbowl and throw their shoes at the defeated enemies as a sign of victory and proclaim it jubilantly. In short, victory is overwhelming and absolute. After these countries are conquered, just as in the days of the conquest of Canaan under Joshua, the land is taken possession of. And so the promise of God to Abraham is fulfilled.

Of Edom He says that He shall throw His shoe over it. This means that He will subject this people to Himself (cf. Rth 4:7). God will rejoice over Philistia. This people have rejoiced at the victories they have won over God’s people (cf. 2Sam 1:20). The roles will be reversed when the Messiah reigns (Isa 11:14).