DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 108 enter into a dialogue in which the Psalmist dedicates himself to praising God; and he requests that God will deliver his beloved. In reply, God says that he has taken the territories of his people and the territories of the surrounding nations as his inheritance. In response, David asks God for deliverance from trouble because man's help is vain; and he expresses confidence that God will enable him and his fellow Israelites to do valiant deeds. The celebration of valiant deeds is the theme of the painting above.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Psalm 57:7-11. Psalm 60:5-12. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 108 - #1. Psalm 108 - #2. ]

     David says that his heart is fixed on giving praise to God in song with the psaltery and the harp. He will awake early to do it. He will sing God's praises among the people of Israel; and he will sing among the nations. He notes that God's mercy and his truth are high like the heavens; and God himself is exalted above the heavens, and his glory above all the earth. He asks that he, who is beloved by God, might be delivered by God's right hand. This is also a Messianic reference, since the Messiah is the one who is supremely beloved by God (1-6).
     God has laid claim to Shechem, the Valley of Succoth, Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, Judah, Moab, Edom, and Philistia. Therefore, even though God has cast off Israel, the Psalmist knows that God will bring him into Edom's strong city, probably Petra, its capital (7-11).
     David therefore asks that God will give help from trouble, because the help of man is vain. And he expresses confidence that God will enable his people to do valiantly because he will tread down their enemies (12-13).

O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
² Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
³ I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
⁴ For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
⁵ Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;
⁶ That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me.

⁷ God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
⁸ Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
⁹ Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.
¹⁰ Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
¹¹ Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?

¹² Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
¹³ Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]