My heart is ready, O God;
I will sing, sing your praise.
Awake, my soul;
awake, lyre and harp,
I will awake the dawn.
I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples,
among the nations I will praise you,
for your love reaches to the heavens
and your truth to the skies.
O God, arise above the heavens;
may your glory shine on earth!
O come and deliver your friends;
help with your right hand and reply.
From his holy place God has made this promise;
“I will triumph and divide the land of Shechem,
I will measure out the valley of Succoth.
Gilead is mine and Manasseh,
Ephraim I take for my helmet,
Judah for my commander’s staff.
Moab I will use for my washbowl,
on Edom I will plant my shoe.
Over the Philistines I will shout in triumph.”
But who will lead me to conquer the fortress?
Who will bring me face to face with Edom?
Will you utterly reject us, O God,
and no longer march with our armies?
Give us help against the foe,
for human help is vain.
With God we shall do bravely
and he will trample down our foes.
Reflection
“My heart is ready, O God; I will sing, sing your praise.”
Psalm 108 really begins with determination. The psalmist prepares not for war, but for worship. Before seeking help, he declares his readiness to sing, to stir his soul, and to awaken the dawn with praise. This is a striking act of faith. It shows us that praise is not just a response to victory — it’s a declaration of trust in the midst of uncertainty.
This psalm holds together two great themes: Worship and Warfare. There is an honest struggle here — questions of rejection, defeat, and the need for deliverance. Yet even in the face of battle, the psalmist proclaims the greatness of God. He rejoices that God’s love stretches to the heavens and that His truth reaches to the skies. He exalts the God who rules not only over Israel but over the nations.
This Sunday is also known as “Christ the King” and so from this point of view, Psalm 108 becomes even more powerful. Jesus is the King above all kings. His reign extends beyond Shechem and Succoth — even beyond geography and time. He is not a distant ruler but a present Saviour, leading us through every battle of life. When the psalmist cries, “Give us help against the foe, for human help is vain,” we are reminded that only Christ can save, only He can conquer death, sin, and despair.
The psalmist calls the harp and lyre to awaken, and to rouse the dawn with praise. In Christ, our worship becomes more than melody—it becomes mission and as we lift our voices, we declare that Christ reigns—not just in word but in power. Worship becomes our witness, our strength, and our response to the eternal Kingship of Jesus.
Prayer
Christ our King,
reign in our hearts and over all the earth.
When we feel weak, be our strength;
when we are lost, be our way.
Awaken our souls to sing your praise
and proclaim your truth among the nations.
May our worship honour you,
and our lives reflect your kingdom of love,
justice, and peace.
We trust in your rule, now and forever.
Amen.