Psalm 108:13: “With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.”
David wrote Psalm 108 as a song, commemorating past victories, and praising God for his steadfast love. He took the first five verses from Psalm 57:7-11 (David was being pursued by his enemies in vv. 1-6) and the last eight from Psalm 60:5-12 and made 108 as a new psalm. He had complete assurance, trust, and faith in God’s faithfulness despite his own unfaithfulness. Therefore, David’s inward strength rested solely in God.
David prays for deliverance and recognizes that human beings help is worthless (verse 12). He continues to stand strong in his confidence in God, in spite of new distressful situations as he declares:
- “My heart is steadfast (HCSB uses the word “confident”), O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being!” Verse 1. David knew the power of singing praise through music to God, is soul-lifting. He gave his full attention to glorifying, extoling, and exalting God through his music.
- “I will awake the dawn!” Verse 2b –with his harp and lyre.
- “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples.” Verse 3a.
- “I will sing praises to you among the nations.” Verse 3b.
On our return flight from visiting family back in Iowa and Minnesota, I was in awe of the big, majestic, and puffy clouds our plane flew above. It was a reminder that on the ground, we can only see half of each cloud. We see the bottom half, and we can’t see the top half. We can’t see the complete structure of clouds on the ground-only the bottom half. Viewing the various types of clouds above and below our plane in flight, reminded me of the sovereign will and plan for our life that God has in mind (Romans 8:28-working everything out for our good.). We trudge through our daily grind of problems wondering the value of each one, and yet God has a complete plan for them all, due to His abundant and faithful love for us. He knows the eventual outcome, the end, which we cannot see in the beginning, just as we cannot see the top half of clouds from the ground – only one-half. The Message states Psalm 108:4b: “Every cloud’s a flag to your faithfulness.” God already has planned the complete picture that we can only put together as puzzle pieces afterwards.
The HCSB, in Psalm 108:13 states, “With God we will perform valiantly; He will trample our foes.”
David never lost his focus on the character of God, which is steadfast love and faithfulness. In Psalm 108:4, he declares: “For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.” As our flight this past weekend flew through, and above the clouds, this verse was so vivid to my eyes. I thought, “God, you are above these clouds in Heaven! Great is your faithfulness!”
The Hebrew word “chesed” in verse 4, is translated as “loving-kindness” and is a common term for describing the “faithful love” or “unfailing love” of God. It is unwavering and bound up in God’s total compassion, forgiveness, blessings, and merciful kindness.
The Hebrew word for “valiantly” in verse 13 is “chayil.” It means strength, power, strong, army, ability, efficiency. Acting boldly and courageously with bravery and determination. Psalm 60:12 is repeated word for word in Psalm 108:13: “With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.”
As I visited with my parents and other relatives last week, I listened to their memories of how God had brought them through various trials in life:
- My one uncle had a mass on his adrenal gland removed that would not have been discovered if he had not first had a gall bladder attack.
- My Dad remembered when his church prayed for a certain man from their church that was a POW, in World War II. This was the first time his church held an evening for praying for prayer requests as a congregation. When this man landed he was immediately captured by the Germans. Dad said, “See that man over there at that table? That was him.”
- My sister-in-law reminisced how her view of life has been drastically changed by having cancer twice. The first instance was stage four. It still has an impact on her attitude and conviction that God is in control of it all!
Gaining wisdom from the boot camp of hard knocks teaches endurance and courage. However wisdom, never prevents storms.
“If you and I are going to live and love audaciously, we’re going to have to quit answering the door when hopelessness bangs its ugly fist at it. It has no place in our lives. Hopelessness is a liar.” Beth Moore, “Audacious.”
Are you going through a situation that is unfair? You have done nothing to deserve this? David had them throughout his life and yet he declared in his musical composition of praise to God in Psalm 108:13: “With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.”
“What if you approached every person, every situation, every challenge as if Christ were in your corner? Christ Himself is pleading your case! Christ is in your corner, on your side.” Mark Batterson, “if. Trading Your If Only Regrets for God’s What if Possibilities.” Isn’t it time to celebrate that you have the King and His kingdom interceding on your behalf? I so need to remember that!
Questions:
How can I be more steadfast in my faith in God?
How do prayer and praise affect your mood?
What new demanding trials are you facing that only God can provide the means to march in step valiantly?
“Satan so hates the genuine praise of Christ that his fiery darts of discouragement are not effective against us when we respond in praise.” William Thrasher.
Listen to “All Ready There” by Casting Crowns.