Psalm 108

Structure and themes

Psalm 108 contains numerous verses which appear in other psalms. Verses 1–5 are similar to Psalm 57:7–11, with slight variation, while verses 7–13 are similar to Psalm 60:5–12. William Barrick considers this psalm to be the "borrower". John Paul II said that the fusion of Psalms 57 and 60 with Psalm 108 shows that "Israel, already in the Old Testament, was re-using and bringing up-to-date the Word of God revealed".

Charles Spurgeon called Psalm 108 "The Warrior's Morning Song, with which he adores his God and strengthens his heart before entering upon the conflicts of the day". He notes that in Psalm 57, verses 7-11 follow on from prayer "and grow out of it", whereas here they initiate the psalm: "the psalmist begins at once to sing and give praise, and afterwards prays to God in a remarkably confident manner".

Matthew Henry calls it "an assurance of God's answer and salvation".

Uses

Judaism

• Verse 5 is recited during Selichot.
• Verse 7 is part of the Elokai Netzor paragraph at the end of the Amidah. This verse is identical to verse 7 in Psalm 60.

Catholic Church

This is one of the psalms for which St. Benedict of Nursia did not specify the use, in the Rule of St. Benedict of 530AD. However, Psalm 108 was traditionally performed by his order for matins of Saturday, or according to another document of the founder or according to one of his successors, so that all 150 psalms are executed each Week.

In the Liturgy of Hours, Psalm 108 is read to the Office of Lauds of Wednesday of the fourth week.

After the excommunication of the whole Spanish town of Trasmoz in the late 13th century, and the refusal of the population to repent the Church cursed the town with the chanting of psalm 108 in 1511.

Eastern Orthodox Church

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Psalm 107 (Psalm 108 in the Masoretic Text) is part of the fifteenth Kathisma division of the Psalter, read at Vespers on Thursday evenings, as well as on Tuesdays and Fridays during Lent, at the Sixth Hour and Matins, respectively.

Protestant

Psalm 108 has been set to music in the Anglican "Hymnal 1982", The United Methodist Hymnal, Psalter Hymnal (Gray) and the Baptist Hymnal (1991 version).

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the twenty-second day of the month, as well as at Evensong on Ascension Day.

Musical setting

Heinrich Schütz composed a four-part setting to a metric German text, "Mit rechtem Ernst und fröhlichm Mut", SVW 206, for the 1628 Becker Psalter. Marc-Antoine Charpentier set it around 1680 in Latin, Paratum cor meum Deus, H.183, for three voices and continuo.

Text

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions.A 1917 translation directly from Hebrew to English by the Jewish Publication Society can be found here or here, and an 1844 translation directly from the Septuagint by L. C. L. Brenton can be found here. Both translations are in the public domain. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 107.

Verse 2

:Awake, lute and harp! :I will awaken the dawn. The Midrash teaches that this verse (verse 3 in Hebrew numbering) refers to David's practice of arising each night before dawn and praising God with psaltery and harp, thus "awakening the dawn".

Notes

References

References

1. [http://medievalist.net/psalmstxt/ps107.htm Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 107 (108] {{webarchive. link. (2017-05-07 medievalist.net)
2. James Luther Mays, ''Psalms'' (Westminster John Knox Press, 2011 ) p347.
3. William Barrick, [http://drbarrick.org/files/studynotes/Psalms/Ps_108.pdf Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs: The Master Musician melodies] (2007).
4. (28 May 2003). "General Audience of John Paul II". Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
5. Spurgeon, C. H., [https://archive.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps108.php Treasury of David: Psalm 108], accessed 12 May 2022
6. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
7. Brauner, Reuven. (2013). "Shimush Pesukim: Comprehensive Index to Liturgical and Ceremonial Uses of Biblical Verses and Passages".
8. [http://www.abbaye-montdescats.fr/?page_id=1887 Psautier latin-français du bréviaire monastique, p.408.]
9. [http://www.abbaye-montdescats.fr/?page_id=1887 C'est la raison pour laquelle la distribution aurait été fixée par lui]. (chapitre XI, traduction par [[Prosper Guéranger]],(Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression 2007) p39.
10. The main cycle of liturgical prayers takes place over four weeks.
11. BBC. (2022). "Spain's cursed village of witches".
12. The Holy Psalter, Saint Ignatius Orthodox Press, 2022
13. Church of England, [https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/The%20Book%20of%20Common%20Prayer%201662.pdf Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter] as printed by [[John Baskerville]] in 1762, p. 281
14. "The Book of Common Prayer: Proper Psalms On Certain Days".
15. "Psalms – Chapter 108". Mechon Mamre.
16. "Psalms 108 - JPS 1917". [[Sefaria.
17. "Psalm 107 - Septuagint and Brenton's Septuagint Translation". Ellopos.
18. {{bibleverse. Psalm. 108:2. NKJV: [[New King James Version]]
19. (October 2012). "Midrash Tehillim / Psalms 108". matsati.com.