Psalm 108: When The Harp Becomes A Weapon
Turing sentiments of universal brotherhood into nationalistic jingoism
It feels as if Psalm 108 is comprised of two, unconnected psalms.
The first, a positive psalm about waking up and making music to praise God. It’s almost universalistic, in a way. In Psalm 108:4, the psalmist writes “I will praise You among the ‘peoples’, O Lord, sing a hymn to You among the ‘nations’. And in 108:6, “Exalt Yourself over the heavens, O God; let Your glory be all over the earth!”
If we were to stop there, it would be similar to a dozen other psalms in which God is praised, with musical instruments and song. I’d read that the psalmist is praising God from within all the citizens of the world. The ‘nations’ and the ‘peoples’ don’t seem negative, and the request for God to let His glory be known all over the earth is a beautiful sentiment.
And then we read Psalm 108:7-14, in which it becomes very personal and somewhat angry. In short, “God reneged on His promise to me that I would be ruling over all these other nations (Moab, Edom, Philistia). Our army lost because you were not with us. You’ve rejected us.”
And then he announces to the reader, “With God we shall triumph; He will trample our foes.”
To me, the question isn’t why the psalmist included the final seven verses, but why he included the first six. Why even pretend to be positive? Why use language of harmony, when you seek destruction and dominance?
The two should not and cannot coexist.
Everyone knows the quote from Isaiah 2:4 speaks about “beating swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks.” That verse also references the nations of the world. He is talking about God bringing peace between nations, and cessation of all wars.
Our psalmist converts a harp into weapon.