WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.400 us, Psalm 108. 00:00:04.820 --> 00:00:07.219 A song, a psalm of David. 00:00:09.460 --> 00:00:11.519 My heart is steadfast, O God. 00:00:12.019 --> 00:00:15.060 I will sing and make melody with all my being. 00:00:16.080 --> 00:00:17.600 Awake, O harp and lyre. 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:19.039 I will awake the dawn. 00:00:19.460 --> 00:00:21.660 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples. 00:00:22.100 --> 00:00:24.359 I will sing praises to you among the nations. 00:00:25.060 --> 00:00:27.740 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens. 00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:30.299 Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:32.879 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:34.960 Let your glory be over all the earth. 00:00:35.420 --> 00:00:37.280 That your beloved ones may be delivered. 00:00:37.820 --> 00:00:40.239 Give salvation by your right hand and answer me. 00:00:41.420 --> 00:00:43.099 God has promised in his holiness, 00:00:43.420 --> 00:00:45.420 with exaltation I will divide up Shechem 00:00:45.420 --> 00:00:47.739 and portion out the valley of Sukkoth. 00:00:48.519 --> 00:00:49.420 Gilead is mine. 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:50.500 Manasseh is mine. 00:00:50.739 --> 00:00:51.820 Ephraim is my helmet. 00:00:52.019 --> 00:00:53.119 Judah my scepter. 00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:55.259 Moab is my wash basin. 00:00:55.539 --> 00:00:57.579 Upon Edom I cast my shoe. 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:00.260 Over Philistia I shout in triumph. 00:01:01.300 --> 00:01:03.480 Who will bring me to the fortified city? 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:05.280 Who will lead me to Edom? 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:07.760 Have you not rejected us, O God? 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:10.620 You do not go out, O God, with our armies. 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:13.200 Well, grant us help against the foe. 00:01:13.980 --> 00:01:16.180 For vain is the salvation of man. 00:01:16.579 --> 00:01:18.500 With God we shall do valiantly. 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:21.980 It is he who will tread down our foes. 00:01:21.980 --> 00:01:28.560 You guys have probably heard the comparison made of the Christian life 00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:31.140 to kind of like a roller coaster, right? 00:01:31.560 --> 00:01:33.140 It's like there's ups and downs. 00:01:33.140 --> 00:01:40.480 And I think some people who are a little bit more careful about making such comparisons 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:45.500 will say that it is like a roller coaster, but it's kind of the overall trajectory is up, right? 00:01:45.719 --> 00:01:47.460 It's an ascending roller coaster. 00:01:47.459 --> 00:01:53.479 And in certain regards, that's definitely true, right? 00:01:53.479 --> 00:01:55.259 Our circumstances can change. 00:01:55.379 --> 00:01:56.599 We can be up and down. 00:01:57.399 --> 00:02:00.719 Even our moods can change. 00:02:00.899 --> 00:02:05.379 We could be doing well in certain areas of faith, and then we could stumble and we can sit in certain ways. 00:02:05.379 --> 00:02:13.120 But even in the midst of these ups and downs, it doesn't mean that our devotion to God wavers, right? 00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:19.780 Even in the midst of the ups and downs for the Christian, there should be a steadfastness of love to God 00:02:19.780 --> 00:02:22.419 because God is steadfast in his love toward us. 00:02:23.479 --> 00:02:26.079 And Psalm 108 is a great picture of that. 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:32.219 It's basically teaching us that we worship God with steadfast hearts because of his steadfast love for us. 00:02:32.219 --> 00:02:40.120 And as I mentioned earlier, so verses 1 to 5 are taken entirely from Psalm 57, 7 to 11. 00:02:40.759 --> 00:02:44.879 And verses 6 to 13 are taken entirely from Psalm 60, 5 to 12. 00:02:45.340 --> 00:02:50.500 But these verses have been repurposed in this period with the different structure in Psalm 108. 00:02:51.139 --> 00:02:55.960 And so we see the praise in verses 1 to 4, the prayer in verses 5 to 6, 00:02:56.240 --> 00:03:00.079 and God's promise in verses 7 to 13. 00:03:00.259 --> 00:03:01.479 So let's look at that. 00:03:02.219 --> 00:03:07.960 In order, first in verses 1 to 3, the psalmist kind of pledges his praise and worship to God. 00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:08.580 He says, 00:03:08.659 --> 00:03:10.400 My heart is steadfast, O God. 00:03:10.740 --> 00:03:13.079 I will sing and make melody with all my being. 00:03:13.579 --> 00:03:14.919 Awake, O harp and lyre. 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:16.120 I will awake the dawn. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:18.639 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples. 00:03:18.699 --> 00:03:20.919 I will sing praise to you among the nations. 00:03:21.659 --> 00:03:24.020 So his heart is set on God. 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:25.060 He sings steadfast. 00:03:25.060 --> 00:03:28.740 So it's a different word from the later, the steadfast love, different word. 00:03:28.860 --> 00:03:34.180 But it's saying that his love for God, his heart is established, firm before God. 00:03:34.180 --> 00:03:37.879 And he says, I will sing and make melody with all my being. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:41.500 The phrase with all my being literally means with my glory. 00:03:41.500 --> 00:03:48.900 So Genesis 49.6 uses my glory in parallel to my soul. 00:03:49.379 --> 00:03:55.659 So I think this is a reference to that God-given human capacity to relate to God and worship God. 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:56.759 So my glory. 00:03:56.960 --> 00:03:57.900 So worships God. 00:03:58.080 --> 00:03:58.580 My glory. 00:03:58.580 --> 00:04:03.200 I will make melody with all my glory. 00:04:03.200 --> 00:04:04.060 With my glory. 00:04:05.060 --> 00:04:10.780 And this worshiper is so eagerly anticipating praising God that he says, 00:04:10.920 --> 00:04:12.380 Awake, O harp and lyre. 00:04:12.420 --> 00:04:13.560 I will awake the dawn. 00:04:13.740 --> 00:04:17.840 So he's not hitting the snooze button in the morning, right? 00:04:18.860 --> 00:04:21.580 He is eager, excited. 00:04:21.740 --> 00:04:24.060 He wakes up his musical instruments of worship. 00:04:24.060 --> 00:04:28.579 And he meets the dawn with his singing. 00:04:29.420 --> 00:04:31.379 And not only does he worship God himself, 00:04:31.740 --> 00:04:35.899 he anticipates singing praise to God among the peoples and among the nations. 00:04:36.180 --> 00:04:38.199 Because our God's not a local God, 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:41.680 but because he's not even an American God or a Western God, 00:04:42.060 --> 00:04:43.480 but because he's the God overall, 00:04:43.620 --> 00:04:46.740 he anticipates worshiping him in this way with all peoples. 00:04:47.720 --> 00:04:48.939 And then in verse 4, 00:04:49.860 --> 00:04:53.160 the psalmist gives his reason for his pledge of praise. 00:04:53.160 --> 00:04:53.920 He says, 00:04:54.420 --> 00:04:58.480 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens. 00:04:58.939 --> 00:05:01.300 Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. 00:05:02.320 --> 00:05:04.580 Psalmist's heart is established. 00:05:04.760 --> 00:05:07.040 It's steadfast before God and it's praise to God 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:10.740 because God is loyal and steadfast in love toward us. 00:05:11.340 --> 00:05:13.840 And this love of God is great above the heavens 00:05:13.840 --> 00:05:15.879 and God's faithfulness reaches to the clouds. 00:05:16.700 --> 00:05:18.200 It's just like the sky above us, 00:05:18.379 --> 00:05:20.000 his faithfulness and his love for us. 00:05:20.080 --> 00:05:20.980 No, no limit. 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:22.560 There's no bounds. 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:25.380 And after this praise, 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:27.780 the psalmist transitions to a prayer in verse 5. 00:05:27.900 --> 00:05:28.020 He says, 00:05:28.100 --> 00:05:30.520 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. 00:05:30.880 --> 00:05:33.320 Let your glory be over all the earth. 00:05:34.280 --> 00:05:35.320 And this makes sense, right? 00:05:35.380 --> 00:05:38.920 Because God's steadfast love is great above the heavens. 00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:40.900 So then it's right that he is exalted, 00:05:41.060 --> 00:05:43.300 lifted up above the heavens, glorified in this way. 00:05:44.040 --> 00:05:47.520 And the psalmist earlier said he sings to God with his glory 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:50.620 and that he wants God's glory to be over all the earth. 00:05:50.620 --> 00:05:55.199 And this is really a prayer that God's presence, 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:58.180 his heavenly presence would invade earth. 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:03.920 That God's heavenly rule and salvation would extend on the earth. 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:07.399 So it's really kind of the same as the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray 00:06:07.399 --> 00:06:09.379 in the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6.10. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:13.600 Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:17.340 And the psalmist continues that prayer in verse 6. 00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:19.820 That your beloved ones may be delivered. 00:06:20.379 --> 00:06:23.260 Give salvation by your right hand and answer me. 00:06:23.840 --> 00:06:26.360 So this is the first indication in this psalm 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:29.580 that God's people are actually facing some kind of trouble 00:06:29.580 --> 00:06:32.800 and that they need God's deliverance. 00:06:33.460 --> 00:06:35.800 Because God had made a covenant with his people 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:37.980 and because God had pledged his love toward them, 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:40.680 his glory spreading over the earth, 00:06:40.680 --> 00:06:44.759 as the psalmist is praying, is connected to their salvation. 00:06:45.160 --> 00:06:47.360 If God's reign is established on earth, 00:06:47.420 --> 00:06:48.980 then they will be delivered from their plight 00:06:48.980 --> 00:06:50.879 because they are God's people. 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:54.300 And this prayer will be resumed later in verse 12, 00:06:54.439 --> 00:06:56.319 but the psalmist now recalls a promise 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:58.699 that God had made previously to them 00:06:58.699 --> 00:07:00.500 as the basis for his confident prayer. 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:02.519 And he says in verses 7 to 8, 00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:04.439 God has promised in his holiness, 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:06.660 with exaltation I will divide up Shechem 00:07:06.660 --> 00:07:08.600 and portion out the valley of Sukkoth. 00:07:09.180 --> 00:07:10.019 Gilead is mine. 00:07:10.019 --> 00:07:10.959 And Manasseh is mine. 00:07:11.060 --> 00:07:11.979 Ephraim is my helmet. 00:07:12.159 --> 00:07:13.259 Judah my scepter. 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:17.079 So this is a declaration of God's unchallenged power 00:07:17.079 --> 00:07:18.240 and sovereignty. 00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:22.719 So Shechem and Sukkoth refer to the eastern region 00:07:22.719 --> 00:07:25.399 of the promised land that God had given to his people. 00:07:26.019 --> 00:07:28.639 Gilead, Manasseh, and Ephraim refer to the northern kingdom 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:29.180 of Israel. 00:07:29.659 --> 00:07:31.740 And Judah refers to the southern kingdom of Israel. 00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:34.979 The west isn't mentioned because that's where the sea is, 00:07:35.500 --> 00:07:36.439 Mediterranean Sea. 00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:40.600 And so this is really a declaration that God reigns over all of his people. 00:07:41.100 --> 00:07:47.339 And the language of helmet and scepter portray God as a divine warrior and a king. 00:07:47.339 --> 00:07:52.599 But it's not merely the nation of Israel over which God reigns. 00:07:52.599 --> 00:07:53.619 Verse 9 adds, 00:07:53.799 --> 00:07:55.399 Moab is my wash basin. 00:07:56.039 --> 00:07:57.979 Upon Edom I cast my shoe. 00:07:58.159 --> 00:08:00.120 Over Philistia I shout in triumph. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:03.459 The nations that surround Israel, 00:08:03.799 --> 00:08:06.979 who have been throughout their history frequent foes of Israel, 00:08:07.359 --> 00:08:10.239 also belong to God and fall under his rule. 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:13.719 The wash basin is a symbol of servanthood. 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:16.180 A shoe is a symbol of ownership. 00:08:17.400 --> 00:08:19.460 It's because in the ancient world, 00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:20.420 in the ancient Near East, 00:08:20.540 --> 00:08:23.620 they measured out lands that they can buy by shoes. 00:08:23.980 --> 00:08:26.620 How many steps basically or shoes that they can, 00:08:26.780 --> 00:08:28.480 makes up that land. 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:31.860 Which is probably why in Ruth 4, 00:08:32.040 --> 00:08:35.000 when the kinsman redeemer denies redeeming the land, 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:37.740 he takes off his shoes and symbolically hands it to the other person. 00:08:38.420 --> 00:08:39.420 So by saying, 00:08:39.500 --> 00:08:40.480 Edom I cast my shoe. 00:08:40.560 --> 00:08:40.879 God's saying, 00:08:40.920 --> 00:08:41.580 I own this. 00:08:41.580 --> 00:08:44.240 And over Philistia I shout in triumph. 00:08:44.980 --> 00:08:46.240 So even though God had, 00:08:46.820 --> 00:08:49.440 so this is the lordship and sovereignty of God. 00:08:49.520 --> 00:08:52.480 But even though God had made this promise to his people in the past, 00:08:53.160 --> 00:08:57.620 this promise triumph seems kind of distant to the psalmist as he's writing this. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:00.440 And so he says in verses 10 to 11, 00:09:00.900 --> 00:09:02.720 Who will bring me to the fortified city? 00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:04.060 Who will lead me to Edom? 00:09:04.440 --> 00:09:06.020 Have you not rejected us, O God? 00:09:06.180 --> 00:09:08.240 You do not go forth, O God, with our armies. 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:13.500 So only God can lead Israel in the conquest of Edom and its fortified city. 00:09:13.899 --> 00:09:17.460 But God, it seems, has deserted them. 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:19.360 There is a seeming absence of God. 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:22.960 But this is not a cry of despair. 00:09:23.539 --> 00:09:26.860 But it's a plea to God to correct this wrong. 00:09:27.220 --> 00:09:30.460 Because they know that God is still their God. 00:09:30.899 --> 00:09:32.180 That God still belongs to them. 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:34.240 His covenant is still binding. 00:09:35.139 --> 00:09:36.220 It still abides. 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:39.120 And so verses 12 to 13, he continues that prayer. 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:41.220 O grant us help against the foe. 00:09:41.540 --> 00:09:43.300 For vain is the salvation of man. 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:44.940 With God we shall do valiantly. 00:09:45.060 --> 00:09:47.379 It is he who will tread down our foe. 00:09:47.620 --> 00:09:51.580 So those last two verses are structured to really highlight that contrast 00:09:51.580 --> 00:09:54.300 between the vanity of the strength of man 00:09:54.300 --> 00:09:57.220 and the valiancy of depending on God. 00:09:57.879 --> 00:10:02.180 That contrast between the weakness of man and the power of God. 00:10:02.179 --> 00:10:07.079 And so he concludes with that kind of high note of prayer. 00:10:07.819 --> 00:10:12.959 And this salvation from foes surrounding Israel and God's people 00:10:12.959 --> 00:10:17.819 really points to and is fulfilled by the salvation of God's people. 00:10:18.219 --> 00:10:19.559 Even in the new covenant. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:21.479 From their spiritual foes. 00:10:21.579 --> 00:10:22.279 From sin. 00:10:22.500 --> 00:10:23.000 From Satan. 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:25.799 And if we try to save ourselves. 00:10:25.799 --> 00:10:27.799 If we turn to man for salvation. 00:10:27.799 --> 00:10:29.440 Then it will be in vain. 00:10:29.659 --> 00:10:31.460 But if we turn to God for salvation. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:33.279 If we turn to Jesus, his son. 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:35.600 Who died for our sins on the cross. 00:10:35.659 --> 00:10:38.539 And was raised from the dead for our redemption and victory. 00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:40.500 Then we shall do valiantly. 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:43.779 And the question to ask in light of this psalm is. 00:10:44.039 --> 00:10:48.139 Do we let this reality control our life? 00:10:48.139 --> 00:10:53.019 Do we let this reality of God and his salvation control our lives? 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:56.879 Because even though the psalmist feels rejected by God. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:57.080 Right? 00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:58.960 He continues to trust. 00:10:59.580 --> 00:10:59.699 Right? 00:10:59.699 --> 00:11:01.500 He continues to praise. 00:11:02.059 --> 00:11:02.840 And why? 00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:05.039 Because he believes God's promises. 00:11:05.460 --> 00:11:08.480 Because he believes that God has not rejected his people. 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:12.259 Because he believes that God's steadfast love continues. 00:11:12.419 --> 00:11:14.299 Because he believes in God's faithfulness. 00:11:14.299 --> 00:11:18.459 And so we worship God likewise with steadfast hearts. 00:11:18.459 --> 00:11:20.879 Because of his steadfast love for us. 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:24.319 The basis for our worship. 00:11:24.459 --> 00:11:25.639 Our steadfast devotion to God. 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:27.139 Is not our willpower. 00:11:27.459 --> 00:11:27.579 Right? 00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:30.259 But it's God's ongoing steadfast love. 00:11:30.939 --> 00:11:32.599 So maybe you have a tough job. 00:11:32.919 --> 00:11:34.959 Or maybe you have relational problems. 00:11:35.839 --> 00:11:38.859 Maybe you feel great guilt and shame because of your sins. 00:11:40.099 --> 00:11:42.620 Maybe you don't feel like getting up in the morning. 00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:45.120 You might not feel like reading your Bible. 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:46.940 You might not feel like praying. 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:50.320 You might not feel like coming to the Sunday worship service. 00:11:50.419 --> 00:11:53.200 But you awake the dawn with your singing. 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:55.740 Your heart is steadfast before God. 00:11:55.860 --> 00:11:58.080 Not because you feel like it. 00:11:58.379 --> 00:12:01.419 But because you believe in the steadfast love of God. 00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:06.899 And so that's, I think, can really help us in our lives when things are difficult. 00:12:06.899 --> 00:12:12.059 And with that in mind, let's awake the harp and lyre. 00:12:12.939 --> 00:12:15.220 And sing of God's steadfast love.