Psalm 108: Valiant Faith

​Key Verse
13 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.
 
Meditation
God’s sovereign grace will not allow us to be defeated by difficulties or defined by circumstances. God’s guaranteed win welcomes us to hope in Him! God’s promised rescue must renew our rejoicing. From caves of darkness, God’s victory compels His people to join His chorus of conquest. From the depths of despair we are free to hope in the Lord and His victory.
 
Today’s Psalm is a quilt composed with fabric from Psalm 57 and Psalm 60, later lyrics for exiled Israel. David wrote Psalm 57 in a cave, hiding for his life from Saul’s pursuit. Psalm 60 was written from David’s despair, after he was betrayed by colleagues. Praise arises from the pit of both problematic circumstances, helpful orientation when Israel was exiled among the nations.
 
The heart with hope is steadfast (v. 1), secure to sing and celebrate when it appears the enemy is winning (v. 2). Hope from the heart gives thanks when it looks like the world has tanked (v. 3) and trusts in God’s faithfulness when it looks like life is failing (v. 4). When life is grimy, the steadfast and secure heart gives glory to God (v. 5) by trusting our Father to work good for His children and glory for His name (v. 6).
 
A heart with hope holds onto this handle: “With God we shall do valiantly” (v. 13). Paul puts it this way, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) Christian hope knows God will redeem all He allows, transforming difficulties into delightful testimonies by working good for us and glory for Him.
 
Today’s Reading
My heart is steadfast, O God!
    I will sing and make melody with all my being!
2 Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awake the dawn!
3 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.
4 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth!
6 That your beloved ones may be delivered,
    give salvation by your right hand and answer me!
7 God has promised in his holiness:
    “With exultation I will divide up Shechem
    and portion out the Valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim is my helmet,
    Judah my scepter.
9 Moab is my washbasin;
    upon Edom I cast my shoe;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
10 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
11 Have you not rejected us, O God?
    You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
12 Oh grant us help against the foe,
    for vain is the salvation of man!
13 With God we shall do valiantly;
    it is he who will tread down our foes.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you defined by your circumstances and feel defeated by your difficulties? Where is your hope?
 
-Which characteristics from today’s reading that describe a heart hoping in God’s victory are the most difficult to manifest? Why?
 
-How can you hold to hope in the Lord from your heart, trusting that with Him you will do valiantly? Where do you need to apply this victory?
 
Key Verse
13 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.