Psalm 108:12

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

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

108:1-13 We may usefully select passages from different psalms, as here, Ps 57; 60, to help our devotions, and enliven our gratitude. When the heart is firm in faith and love, the tongue, being employed in grateful praises, is our glory. Every gift of the Lord honours and profits the possessor, as it is employed in God's service and to his glory. Believers may pray with assured faith and hope, for all the blessings of salvation; which are secured to them by the faithful promise and covenant of God. Then let them expect from him help in every trouble, and victory in every conflict. Whatever we do, whatever we gain, God must have all the glory. Lord, visit all our souls with this salvation, with this favour which thou bearest to thy chosen people.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Give us help from trouble ... - This is copied from Psalm 60:11.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

PSALM 108

Ps 108:1-13. This Psalm is composed of Ps 108:1-5 of Ps 57:7-11; and Ps 108:6-12 of Ps 60:5-12. The varieties are verbal and trivial, except that in Ps 108:9, "over Philistia will I triumph," differs from Ps 60:8, the interpretation of which it confirms. Its altogether triumphant tone may intimate that it was prepared by David, omitting the plaintive portions of the other Psalms, as commemorative of God's favor in the victories of His people.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?.... In Psalm 60:10, it is, "and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies". See Gill on Psalm 60:10.

Geneva Study Bible

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

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. from trouble] Or, as R.V., against the adversary. Cp. Psalm 108:13.

for vain is the help of man] Lit. salvation. Cp. Psalm 108:6. It is a delusion (cp. Psalm 33:17) to look to human strength for victory. See Psalm 44:6-7; 1 Samuel 17:47; Jeremiah 17:5; and cp. Jdg 7:4; Jdg 7:7; 1 Samuel 14:6; 2 Chronicles 14:11; 1Ma 3:16 ff.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 12. - Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Completely identical with Psalm 60:11. Psalm 108:12

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Psalm 60:7-14 forms this second half. The clause expressing the purpose with למען, as in its original, has the following הושׁיעה for its principal clause upon which it depends. Instead of ועננוּ, which one might have expected, the expression used here is וענני without any interchange of the mode of writing and of reading it; many printed copies have ועננו here also; Baer, following Norzi, correctly has וענני. Instead of ולי...לי, Psalm 60:9, we here read לי...לי, which is less soaring. And instead of Cry aloud concerning me, O Philistia do I shout for joy (the triumphant cry of the victor); in accordance with which Hupfeld wishes to take התרועעי in the former as infinitive: "over (עלי instead of עלי) Philistia is my shouting for joy" (התרועעי instead of התרועעי, since the infinitive does not admit of this pausal form of the imperative). For עיר מצור we have here the more usual form of expression עיר מבצר. Psalm 108:12 is weakened by the omission of the אתּה (הלא).