Let us bring our wandering hearts under the lordship of Jesus Christ. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul wrote of casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, so as to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
Jesus Christ, the Lord of heaven and earth, is more than able to fill our hearts until overflowing with blessings. In Ephesians 1:23, we read that Christ “fills all in all.” When Christ is with us and we are with Him, songs of God’s praise do arise from within our heart and soul.
“I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples, and I will sing praises to You among the nations.” Psalm 108:2-3
Spirit-filled worship is animate. Full of life, love and joy! David woke up with the dawn of day and commanded his voice and his musical instruments to sing praises to the Lord. He wanted praises of God to be heard among the nations. [1] He wanted the nations to join his song just as birds seem to join together in singing to the Lord every morning.
Our tongue is one of God’s greatest gifts. It fulfills its highest purpose when it proclaims God’s praises. As Psalms 45:1 says, when the heart overflows with praise, the tongue becomes “the pen of a ready writer.” [2]
David dedicated his musical talents to God’s glory, saying, “Awake, my psaltery and harp.” [3] God welcomes us to use musical instruments to worship Him.
“For Your mercy is great above the heavens, and Your truth reaches to the clouds.” Psalm 108:4
God’s mercy and truth are beyond what our finite minds can comprehend without the help of His Word and Holy Spirit. Praise God that He reveals His mercy and truth to us.
“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and Your glory above all the earth.” Psalm 108:5
This should also be our desire—that God would receive the honor due His Name throughout the earth. David’s exaltation of God reflects the heart of Jesus in John 12:28 where Jesus prayed, “Father, glorify Your own Name.” David’s heart to glorify God reflects what Jesus taught us to pray, when He prayed, “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.” [4]
Our prayers should not be focused only on our personal needs. [5] We should be jealous for God. That He would be exalted and glorified by all people everywhere! For example, pray, “Thank You Lord that Your glory covers the earth as the waters cover the sea!”
“That Your beloved may be delivered, save with Your right hand, and hear me.” Psalm 108:6
The faith of us who are God’s beloved ones rests on His power and His promises. [6] We pray, “Save with your right hand,” because Jesus God’s Son sits at His right hand. God did and does hear, deliver and save us by His right hand.
“God has spoken in His holiness: ‘I will rejoice. I will divide Shechem and measure out the Valley of Succoth. Gilead is Mine. Manasseh is Mine. Ephraim also is the helmet for My head. Judah is My lawgiver. Moab is My washpot. Over Edom I will cast My shoe. Over Philistia I will triumph.” Psalm 108:7-9
God confirmed His Word by His holiness. Therefore, we can rejoice even before the answer is manifest. God’s promises are certain. God’s speaking and doing are inseparable. [7]
God had promised David the loyalty of his people, so David spoke of the lands of Shechem and Succoth, Gilead and Manasseh, Ephraim and Judah as his. God promised David victory over his enemies. Therefore, David considered these nations as already won. [8]
David’s inheritance of nations is symbolic of Christ. God has promised His Son the nations as His inheritance and the ends of the earth as His possession. [9]
In John 6:37, Jesus declared, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”
In Hebrews 2:8, we read that God put all things in subjection under His Son’s feet. “But now we do not yet see all things put under Him.” Although this victory has not yet been fully revealed, it is guaranteed. God watches over His Word to perform it.
“Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me to Edom?” Psalm 108:10
David brought his concerns before God in prayer. His confidence rested not in military might but in God’s faithfulness. The same God who gave him past victories, would also win today’s battle. [10]
“Is it not You, O God, who cast us off? And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies? Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies.” Psalm 108:11-13
When the enemy tells us that God is against us, we can tell God how we are feeling and ask Him to prove the enemy wrong. Contrary to Satan’s lies, David believed that God would once again give him the victory. Rather than admit defeat, he proclaimed, “Through God we will do valiantly, He will tread down our enemies.”
In Ephesians 6:10-13, Paul wrote, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
David could not defeat the spiritual forces of wickedness in his own strength. The Lord, in His mercy, revealed this truth to David and he boldly declared, “Through God we shall do valiantly.”
In Philippians 4:13, Paul expressed this same truth when he wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
God does valiantly! He treads down enemies! Therefore, let us sing God’s praises among all nations. All of us together singing like birds in the morning, “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and Your glory above all the earth.”
[1-11] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
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