Psalm-108
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Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
Remember the following two
truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Psalm 108 is titled “A Song, a Psalm of David” and it opens with a firm declaration of ‘trust’ and ‘praise’ that moves quickly into a plea for ‘deliverance’ and ‘victory’. The text quoted follows the JPS 1917 wording, which preserves the Masoretic phrasing and the traditional Name for almighty, יְהוָה LORD, whilst אֱלֹהִים - Elohim or (God) is not a name, it is the Almighty’s attribute ... who He is! But sadly having received such poor teaching from rabbis from many ages to this day, it has somehow become a name, which it is not!
Let us now read Tehillim - Psalm 108: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
2 My heart is steadfast, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God); I will sing, yea, I will sing praises, even with my glory.
3. Awake, Psaltery and harp; I will awake the dawn.
4. I will give thanks unto Thee, O יְהוָה - LORD, among the peoples; and I will sing praises unto Thee among the nations.
5. For Thy mercy is great above the heavens, and Thy truth reacheth unto the skies.
6. Be Thou exalted, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, above the heavens; and Thy glory be above all the earth.
7. That Thy
beloved may be delivered, save with Thy right hand, and answer me.
8. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim spoke in His
holiness, that I would exult; that I would divide Shechem, and mete out the
valley of Succoth.
9. Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the defence of my head; Judah is my sceptre.
10. Moab is my washpot; upon Edom do I cast my shoe; over Philistia do I cry aloud.
11. Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who will lead me unto Edom?
12. Hast not Thou cast us off, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim? and Thou goest not forth, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, with our hosts?
13. Give us help against the adversary; for vain is the help of man.
14. Through אֱלֹהִים - Elohim we shall do valiantly; for He it is that will tread down our adversaries”.
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Psalm 108 is a short,
resolute song of David that blends praise with petition; it reuses earlier Psalmic material to turn past confidence into present prayer.
Let us now look for an Explanation of the verses:
Verses 1-6.
Praise and resolve. David begins with a steadfast heart and a vow to sing, calling instruments to awaken the dawn and promising to praise אֱלֹהִים among the nations; this is a confident, worshipful opening that emphasizes אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s mercy and truth as transcendent realities reaching “above the heavens”.
Verses 7-8.
Petition for deliverance. The tone shifts to a request: David asks אֱלֹהִים to save “Thy beloved” and to answer by His right hand, then recalls a divine word promising triumph and territorial claims language that ties worship to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s covenantal action.
Verses 9-10.
Geographic imagery of victory. The psalm lists regions (Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, Judah, Moab, Edom, Philistia) in vivid, symbolic terms, some as inheritance, others as subdued enemies, phrases that reflect royal ambition and the language of ancient Near Eastern conquest.
Verses 11-14.
Urgent plea and final confidence. David asks who will bring him into the fortified city and whether אֱלֹהִים has abandoned the people; he then rejects mere human help and closes with a bold affirmation: through אֱלֹהִים we shall do valiantly, for אֱלֹהִים will tread down our adversaries.
Short theological notes:
Psalm 108 is composite. However, I have noted that its first half closely parallels Psalm 57:7-11 and its second half parallels Psalm 60:5-12; this Psalm repurposes earlier material so that remembered praise becomes a present petition.
The movement from praise to petition models a spiritual practice: begin with אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s character (mercy, truth) and let that confidence shape urgent requests for deliverance.
In Closing:
May this Psalm encourage you to anchor to prayer in a praiseworthy style, and Name אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim’s Name, blessed be He, and his steadfast ‘attribute’, then bring your needs with the same confidence that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s mercy and truth endure. Let the ancient images of victory remind you that ‘worship’ and ‘trust’ are the soil from which courageous prayers grow.
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem;
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine
ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign
between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”.
Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
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May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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