Blogging the Psalms

Blogging the Psalms -- Psalm 108

Psalm 108

What exactly is a fixed heart? In this world, many are determined to follow Jesus. Yet, a fixed heart is rare. Fixedness requires obedience to God’s Word, daily reliance on God’s strength, endurance, and counting the cost. Whether it’s being determined to see a healing manifest, or determination to be sexually pure, or determination to read one’s Bible first thing in the morning — a fixed unmovable heart is required. Christ’s victory must be brought into one’s own life.

In English, there is a word: faithfulness. There is a reason why belief  is also linked with loyalty, although loyalty and belief have different root words. One who has faith in another will be loyal to that person no matter what.  

In this Psalm, the psalmist speaks of ownership. He declares that Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Moab are his. At the time, they probably were not his. At least not in the earthly sense of ownership. It is not written in the historical books that the author of this psalm owned these regions. But what is important is that the psalmist — or the Spirit of God within him— has already accepted his (or God’s) ownership of these regions by faith. Even more spiritually, he has fixed his heart to believe that these regions are his even though facts seem contrary.

The psalmist implies that the Lord will him to attain what he’s determined to get. The Lord will help the psalmist to get what his heart is fixed upon. Why? Because the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.

And there’s another city yet to conquer. Edom. The psalmist aims to conquer all he can. He aims for a full victory. In the same way, believers should accept God’s word as being absolute and true. Because of the faithfulness of God’s promise, there is the hope of an absolute and perfect and full victory. If Edom still has to fall, Jesus will bring us into that strong city. Even if it seems that God has cast us off, God will help us because He knows our hearts are fixed in Him.

1O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.

2Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

3I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.

4For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.

5Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;

6That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me.

7God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

8Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;

9Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.

10Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?

11Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?

12Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

13Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.