BE THY GLORY EXALTED ABOVE THE EARTH

This psalm is an amalgam of two earlier psalms, namely, 57 and 60, “revived in this new form probably on the return from Babylon”. The psalmist announces that his heart “is fixed”; this is similar to the many times statements like “I shall not be moved” are used in the Psalms, e.g., 16. 8; 62. 6.

The long silent psaltery and harp were called to awaken and, with the psalmist, to give thanks to the Lord, vv. 2, 3, and to exalt God and His glory above the earth and the heavens, v. 5.

The great mercy of God had been displayed, but the enemy was still active. The reason for the exaltation of the glory of God was “that thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me”. The assurance of divine ownership brings rejoicing. God states that “Judah is my lawgiver: Moab is my washpot”, vv. 8, 9.

The question was asked, “Hast not thou cast us off, O God? And thou goest not forth, O God, with our hosts”, v. 11 R.V. The answer is supplied in the N.T., for God “hath not cast away his people”, Rom. 11. 2, 26. Down the ages, all those who battle for God and His people, have learned the never-failing battle cry, “Give us help … for vain is the help of man”, v. 12, and can say, “Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies”, v. 13.

The people of God always have enemies, those who want to see them fail and fall. Today we are under the constant attack of spiritual foes, for we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”, 2 Cor. 10. 3-6.

Our chief weapon today is the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”, Eph. 6. 17. It is mighty, not through our own intellectual powers, but “through God”, and is then effective for attacking Satan’s strongholds. Those who are obedient to the Word of God can always be certain that God is with them in the battle, and need not ask the question in Psalm 108. 11. But if we are not relying on divine help and have not learned the emptiness of human help, then it often seems that we are alone.