Sharper Iron — Spring into the Psalms - Psalm 108: The Davidic King Rejoices

Even though the prayers of David, son of Jesse, are said to have ended in Psalm 72, the Psalter records more Davidic psalms. In this way, the Psalter teaches us to look for the coming King who is both David’s son and David’s Lord. In Psalm 108, this Davidic king leads the people of God in rejoicing and giving thanks to the LORD for His steadfast love and faithfulness. He has shown His steadfast love and faithfulness to the King and all His people by giving victory to His people over their foes.

Rev. Dr. Adam Hensley, Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 108.

To learn more about Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, visit csl.edu.

Join Sharper Iron this spring to study selected Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Together in faith, LCEF helps to start, sustain and strengthen LCMS ministries through financial and strategic partnerships. Visit lcef.org.

Psalm 108

With God We Shall Do Valiantly

A Song. A Psalm of David.

[1] My heart is steadfast, O God!

I will sing and make melody with all my being!

[2] Awake, O harp and lyre!

I will awake the dawn!

[3] I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

[4] For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

[5] Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let your glory be over all the earth!

[6] That your beloved ones may be delivered,

give salvation by your right hand and answer me!

[7] God has promised in his holiness:

“With exultation I will divide up Shechem

and portion out the Valley of Succoth.

[8] Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;

Ephraim is my helmet,

Judah my scepter.

[9] Moab is my washbasin;

upon Edom I cast my shoe;

over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

[10] Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

[11] Have you not rejected us, O God?

You do not go out, O God, with our armies.

[12] Oh grant us help against the foe,

for vain is the salvation of man!

[13] With God we shall do valiantly;

it is he who will tread down our foes.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).