With God’s Help we Can Do More Than we Think

Psalms 108:1–13
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In February 1980, the U.S. Olympic hockey team slipped its foot into a glass slipper and walked away with a gold medal at Lake Placid, New York. Those collegians had shocked the world by upsetting the powerful Soviet team, and then they grabbed the championship from Finland while … More

Victory

This passage is a reminder of how we can have victory in God’s strength. As you read this psalm you may say, “I’ve read all of this before.” The first five verses are taken right out of of Psalm 57:7-11, and the last eight verses are taken right out of the last half of Psalm 60. The Holy Spirit takes pieces from these two psalms and arranges them in a slightly different way. This is not because He has run out of ideas, but because He wants to bring these particular truths to us in a fresh way.

The psalm revolves around four words: music, majesty, might, and mercy.

Music (vv. 1-3) - There had been no songs in Babylon. They had been looking at their circumstances of fears, frustrations and failings and were unable to sing. David had committed himself to praising the Lord always, even in his life before unbelievers.
Majesty (vv. 4-6) - In these verses we see the psalmist thoughts turning to the wonderful God upon whom his heart is fixed and who has filled his soul with song. He thrills at the fact of who God is. There is no power in heaven, on earth or in Hell that can prevent Him from delivering his beloved from whatever troubles
Might (vv. 7-11) - No power exists that can prevent God from accomplishing His plans. Furthermore, nothing can hinder God from dong what He intends with His plans, His people, and His prerogatives.
Mercy (vv. 12-13) - God is a God of mercy who takes care of us in spite of our failures. The writer opened with praise to the Lord. Then he reminded us of His promises to conquer our enemies and he closed with prayer for God’s help. Praise, promises and prayer is a combination found often in the Psalms.

Application

Are my prayer requests often for God to just help me through a stressful situation? God wants to help me have more than survival in my life. With God’s help I can do more than I think. Actually I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me (Phil. 4:13).

Psalms 108:1-13 (English Standard Version)

My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer me! God has promised in his holiness: "With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter. Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph." Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies. Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.

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