Psalms 108:1 - Meaning and Application

We can learn here how to praise God from the example of someone who knew how to do it well.

We must praise God with a steady heart. Our heart must be engaged in the duty, or we will make little of it. It must also stay fixed on the duty (Psalm 108:1): "O God, my heart is fixed, and then I will sing and give praise." Wandering thoughts must be gathered back and kept close to the work. They should be told that there is enough work here for all of them.

We must also praise God openly and freely. David says, "I will praise him with my glory," that is, with my tongue. Our tongue is our glory, and it is never used more nobly than when it praises God. When the heart is setting out this good matter, the tongue must be like the pen of a ready writer (Psalm 45:1). David's skill in music was his glory and made him famous, and that too should be dedicated to God's praise. So he says, "Awake, lute and harp." Whatever gift we excel in, we should use it to praise God.

We must praise God with strong feeling and stir ourselves up to do it, so our worship is lively and not careless (Psalm 108:2). "Awake, lute and harp," means it should not be played in a dull, sleepy way, but with lively music. "I will awaken the dawn" means, I will be up early to do it, with all that is within me, and even that is not too much. Warm devotion honors God.

We must also praise God publicly, showing that we are not ashamed to admit our debt to him or our thankful response to his kindness. We should want others to be moved by God's goodness too (Psalm 108:3). "I will praise you among the peoples of Judah; I will sing to you among the nations of the earth." Wherever we are, we should take every chance to speak well of God. We should not be shy about singing psalms when our neighbors can hear us, as if we were ashamed of our Master.

In our praises, we should especially magnify God's mercy and truth (Psalm 108:4). His mercy is seen in his promises, and his truth is seen in keeping them. The heavens are vast, but God's mercy is greater still. The skies are high and bright, but God's truth is even more splendid and more clear. We cannot see farther than the heavens and clouds, and yet there is still more of God's mercy and truth to see, especially in the world to come.

Since we are so weak and incomplete in glorifying God, we should ask him to glorify himself. We should ask him to do all things for his own glory, to gain honor, and to make his name known (Psalm 108:5). "Be exalted, O God, above the heavens," higher than even the angels can raise you with their praise, "and let your glory be over all the earth." "Father, glorify your own name." You have glorified it already, glorify it again. This should be our first request: "Hallowed be your name."