Psalm 108

Reading for August 17, 2012      Psalm 108

Psalm 108 was created by joining parts of two previous psalms: Psalm 57:7-11, and Psalm 60:5-12. Apparently, Israel was encountering a crisis, and Psalm 108 was developed as an intercessory prayer.

In the opening half of the psalm (v1-6), the psalmist affirms that God is the ground of their hope (v. 1a, 4),

“My heart is confident in you, O God;

For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens.

    Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.”

Then the psalmist makes his petition (v.6),

“Now rescue your beloved people.

    Answer and save us by your power.”

The psalm then becomes a divine oracle as God speaks in verses 7-9. God’s Word affirms that the land of Israel still belongs to Him, thus He is still in control and will remain faithful to His covenant people. The psalmist then responds with an affirmation that on their own they are helpless, but “With God’s help we will do mighty things” (v. 13a).

When we are in a crisis, when we are beset with problems, it seems all we can see are the issues we are facing. However, if we will discipline our life to include daily devotions and meditation time, the Holy Spirit can recall for us this simple formula in Psalm 108:

We affirm Jesus is the ground of our hope: “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise” (Hebrews 10:23).

We listen for God to say, “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this (crisis), for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15-21).

We affirm, “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” Philippians 4:13).

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading of the Psalms

 attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

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Reading for August 18, 2012      Psalm 109