(REFLECTIONS ON Psalm 108:1-13)

12 Oh give us help against the adversary, for deliverance by man is in vain. 13 Through God we will do valiantly, and it is He who shall tread down our adversaries. (New American Standard Bible, NASB)

Who is our help in times of trouble? Who do we turn to when the world seemingly is against us, when our enemies surround us, and when we are lost within our struggles?

God was Israel’s help in time of need, but we see in Scripture that they often relied on themselves, their neighbors, like Egypt and Assyria, but today’s Psalm is a reminder that deliverance by man is in vain.

Where does our help come from? Where do we look to for help when we are overwhelmed? Do we try to find help within ourselves, in other people, in officials, in family and friends? Yes, there are some problems that people can help us with, some issues that the government can assist with, but when we face problems that are greater than any organization or any person can do anything about, we are reminded, deliverance by man is in vain.

It is not through man, through the world, through structures or organizations that we will have victory over the impossible situations in our life. Sure the world can help us with worldly problems, but when we face impossible problems, it is only the God of the impossible, that can deliver us.

As the psalmist writes, it is through God we will do valiantly, and it is He who shall tread down our adversaries. Brothers and sisters, this is a reminder that our battle and struggle is not just against flesh and blood, as Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12,

12 For our struggle in not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

And so, it is not flesh and blood that can deliver us, but our God, because the deliverance by man is in vain.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Psalm 108