Salmos 108
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 108
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Psalm 108:1-5 is taken from Psalm 57:7-11. Psalm 108:6-13 is taken from Psalm 60:5-12. For the exegetical details see the full notes online at Psalms 57 and 60.
Salmos 108:1-6
108:1a "steadfast" This VERB (BDB 465, KB 464, Niphal PARTICIPLE) denotes a life of faith and faithfulness (cf. Ps. 57:8 [twice]; 112:7) to God's right path (cf. Ps. 16:11; 139:24). An example of someone who is not steadfast is given in Ps. 78:37. The LXX, Peshitta, and Vulgate repeat the phrase, which shows that some assimilation between this Psalm and Ps. 57:7-11 has occurred. For "heart" see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEART. ▣ "O God" This is the title/name Elohim (cf. Gen. 1:1) used of Israel's Deity as the Creator, Provider, and Sustainer of all life on this planet. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. 108:1b-3 The characteristics of a steadfast heart are I will sing ‒ BDB 1010, KB 1479, Qal COHORTATIVE I will sing praises ‒ BDB 274, KB 273, Piel COHORTATIVE I will awaken the dawn ‒ BDB 734, KB 802, Hiphil COHORTATIVE I will give thanks ‒ BDB 392, KB 389, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in a COHORTATIVE sense I will sing praises ‒ same as #2 Most of these activities were done at temple worhsip times, but "at dawn" seems to imply a daily, private worship schedule although it must be acknowledged that the Hebrew can mean, "I will awake the dawn"; meaning his praises bring light and hope, not a reference to when he praises the NET Bible sees this as imagery of "the times of deliverance and vindication the psalmist anticipates," p. 979 108:1b "even with my soul" NKJV, Peshitta "even with my glory" NRSV, REB "awake my soul" "wake up my soul" "come my glory" "with all my soul" "in my glory" The NKJV is literal but NRSV, TEV, and NJB use the parallel in Ps. 57:8 to add the third use of the VERB "awake" (BDB 734, KB 802), which appears twice in the MT. Here, the word (BDB 458) is used of the psalmist's being (i.e., nephesh). This use of the term "glory" occurs in Ps. 7:5; 16:9; 30:12; 57:8. The NET Bible (p. 979) suggests an emendation from כבוד (BDB 458) to "my life," כבד (lit. "liver", BDB 458). It makes reference to AB, p. 94, but AB uses the quote by Anath to explain theVERB "exalt" used by YHWH and not as a support for the suggested emendation. SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (OT, kabod) SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH 108:3 Notice the praise of YHWH extends to the peoples the nations all the earth (cf. Ps. 108:5b The universal element so characteristic of the previous Psalms continues! YHWH is the one true God, the only Creator, the only Savior. He Himself formed mankind in His image and likeness (cf. Gen. 1:26-27) for fellowship (cf. Gen. 3:8). SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN 108:4 "lovingkindness" NKJV, LXX, Peshitta "Mercy" "steadfast love" "covenant love" "faithful love" "unfailing love" "faithfulness" This is the special covenant NOUN (hesed) that described YHWH's faithfulness to His promises. Mankind's ultimate hope is in the merciful and faithful character of God! SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (HESED) SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) ▣ "above the heavens" Notice the parallel with the next two lines. YHWH's lovingkindness and truth reach above the heavens. Yea, YHWH Himself reaches above the physical creation (Ps. 108:5). The "heavens" are the atmosphere above the earth, not YHWH's dwelling place. SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN and the THIRD HEAVEN 108:5 "glory" See note at Ps. 108:1. SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (OT, kabod) 108:6 "Your beloved" Here, this refers to the covenant people (cf. Ps. 60:5; 127:2; Jer. 11:15). It came to be a title for the Messiah (especially from the Servant Songs of Isaiah, i.e., Isa. 42:1). YHWH refers to Jesus by this title at His baptism ‒ Matt. 3:17 in a quote from Isaiah ‒ Matt. 12:18 at His transfiguration ‒ Matt. 17:5 It later becomes a title of family endearment for those who follow Jesus (i.e., Rom. 1:7; Col. 3:12; 1 Thess. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2:13). ▣ The first strophe has several IMPERATIVES. awake, harp and lyre, Ps. 108:2 ‒ BDB 734, KB 802, Qal be exalted, O God, Ps. 108:5 ‒ BDB 926, KB 1202, Qal save, Ps. 108:6 ‒ BDB 446, KB 448, Hiphil answer, Ps. 108:6 ‒ BDB 772, KB 851, Qal Number 3 and 4 are prayer requests. Numbers 1 and 2 are related to praise. ▣ "Your right hand" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPHMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE GOD SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND
Salmos 108:7-9
108:7-9 YHWH is speaking (several COHORTATIVES) from His temple (lit. "sanctuary") about His ownership of Canaan. This strophe is from Ps. 60:6-8. Some of these lines became slogans, catchphrases, or liturgy. 108:7a "in His holiness" This is imagery for the Holy of Holies and the Ark of the Covenant. See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HOLY ONE 108:7b "I will exult" (cf. Ps. 60:6) NKJV, Peshitta "I will rejoice" "with exaltation" "I will go up now" TEV, NJB "in triumph" "I will be exalted" "I would exultingly. . ." The MT, "with exultation" (BDB 759, KB 831, Qal COHORTATIVE) is followed by most English translations (with variations). The NEB and REB divide the Hebrew text differently. MT ‒ אעלזה NEB ‒ אעל זה The UBS Text Project, p. 388, gives a third suggestion by emendation "I shall be exalted" (LXX) ‒ אעלה 108:8 "Judah is My scepter" This is an allusion to Jacob's blessing of his children in Genesis 49, especially Gen. 49:10. This is also mentioned in Num. 24:17 (cf. Ps. 60:7). 108:9 "I shall throw my shoe" This is imagery suggesting ownership of a servant, slave, or military victory.
Salmos 108:10-13
108:10-13 Because YHWH is the owner and controller of the Promised Land (i.e., Canaan), surely He will not allow His people to be defeated and displaced! But remember ‒ Gen. 15:12-21; Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-28. 108:10a "the besieged city" The MT has "fortified city" (BDB 747 CONSTRUCT BDB 131). This may refer to the city of Bozrah because Edom is mentioned in the next line of poetry. Bozrah (BDB 131 II) is from the same Hebrew root as "city" or "fortification" (BDB 131, see IVP Bible Background Commentary, p. 551). 108:10b NASB, NKJV, NRSV, TEV, Peshitta "Who will lead me"" REB, NJB, LXX "Who will guide me" "that I were led" The textual question is just like Ps. 60:9. Should the time of the first line of poetry match the time of the second line? God will lead God has led (UBS Text Project gives this an "A" rating) Remember, time is not part of the Hebrew VERB; only context can denote the time element with the help of the VERB stem. Here, the parallel in Ps. 60:9 must be taken into account. 108:11 The covenant people were defeated in battle (cf. Ps. 44:9) because YHWH did not accompany them. The ark was carried into battle as a symbol of YHWH's personal presence with the soldiers. But if His people had proved unfaithful to the covenant, He would not give them the victory. 108:12 This is an acknowledgment that Israel's only hope is YHWH. Their military might and battle strategies cannot bring victory, only YHWH can! 108:13 "He who shall tread down" This is military imagery of victory (cf. 2 Sam. 22:43; Ps. 44:5; Zech. 10:5). It may be related to standing on an enemy's neck walking over dead soldiers in the mire/dust a rapid movement of an army in pursuit of a retreating victor