Psalm 108 11

Psalm 108:11 kjv

Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?

Psalm 108:11 nkjv

Is it not You, O God, who cast us off? And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies?

Psalm 108:11 niv

Is it not you, God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?

Psalm 108:11 esv

Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies.

Psalm 108:11 nlt

Have you rejected us, O God?
Will you no longer march with our armies?

Psalm 108 verses

Psalm 108 11 Meaning

Psalm 108:11 is a fervent and poignant lament expressing the profound despair and desperate plea of a nation facing dire military challenges. It functions as a rhetorical question that effectively serves as both a sorrowful assertion and an urgent petition. The first part, "Have You not, O God, rejected us?", reflects the people's feeling of abandonment and perceived divine withdrawal in their time of need. This feeling is not a statement of absolute fact, but a cry born from their current suffering and the absence of clear divine intervention. The second part, "Will You not go forth, O God, with our armies?", transitions into an impassioned plea for God to reverse His apparent decision and actively participate with them in battle, which was traditionally understood as the guarantor of victory for Israel.

Psalm 108 11 Context

Psalm 108 is a unique composite psalm, meticulously crafted by joining verses from two earlier Psalms attributed to David: Psalm 57:7-11 (vv. 1-5 of Ps 108) and Psalm 60:5-12 (vv. 6-13 of Ps 108). This structure is important because Psalm 108:11 is directly derived from Psalm 60:10. Psalm 60 itself is a "Michtam of David," described as a "Shiggaion" or "A Didactic Psalm, when he fought with Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and Joab returned and defeated Edom in the Valley of Salt, 12,000 men." This superscription sets the original context of Psalm 60 (and thus Psalm 108:11) in a period of military crisis and recent defeat for Israel. While David ultimately secured victory, the Psalm captures the moment before or during the initial setback, expressing the national despair, the perception of divine abandonment, and the desperate prayer for God to once again go forth with their armies. The compilation in Psalm 108 thus frames a journey from initial confidence and praise (from Ps 57) to lament and deep longing for God's help (from Ps 60), ultimately anticipating His victorious presence (from Ps 60's confident ending).

Psalm 108 11 Word analysis

• Have You not (הֲלֹא - hă·lō): This is a particle used for rhetorical questions. In this context, it is a forceful affirmation and lament rather than a genuine inquiry. It means "surely not" or "is it not true that," conveying the speaker's bitter experience and conviction that God has indeed acted in this way. It's a statement veiled as a question.
• O God (אֱלֹהִים - ’Ĕlōhîm): The plural form of "God" used here refers to the sovereign Creator and Judge of the universe. Its repetition in the verse (once with each rhetorical question) serves to intensely focus the plea on God's divine authority and power, emphasizing that only He can remedy their situation, even as they perceive His rejection.
• rejected us (זְנַחְתָּנוּ - zā·naḵ·tā·nū): Derived from the verb zanah (זָנַח), meaning "to cast off," "to spurn," "to forsake," "to discard." It implies a complete and deliberate turning away or abandonment, often due to displeasure or punishment. The term conveys the profound sense of hurt and isolation felt by the people, believing they have been cast off by their divine protector.
• Will You not go forth (וְלֹא־תֵצֵא - wə·lō’·tē·tsê): Literally "and not will you go forth." This part also uses the rhetorical question structure, intensifying the plea for God's active military presence. "Go forth" (יָצָא - yatza) signifies not just passive presence but active engagement, leading the army, and fighting alongside them. This was crucial for Israel's military success, as God Himself was understood to be their primary warrior (Exo 14:14, Deut 3:22).
• with our armies (בְּצִבְאוֹתֵינוּ - bə·tsib·’ō·ṯê·nū): Literally "in our hosts" or "among our troops." This refers to their military forces. The plea is for God to manifest His presence within their human forces, empowering them and ensuring victory. Without God going forth "with" them, their human armies are considered ineffective and doomed. The repetition of ’Ĕlōhîm before bə·tsib·’ō·ṯê·nū in the second phrase places strong emphasis on whose armies these are when God is with them.

Words-group analysis:

• "Have You not, O God, rejected us?": This initial phrase establishes the deep lament. It is a powerful assertion of perceived divine abandonment, reflecting national despair and vulnerability. It assumes that God has indeed rejected them, a belief derived from their present military suffering. This rhetorical question expresses agony and seeks validation for their pain.
• "Will You not go forth, O God, with our armies?": Following the declaration of perceived rejection, this second phrase forms a desperate, direct petition for God to restore His active, martial presence. It's a longing for the previous era when God led their battles. The repetition of "O God" highlights the utter dependence on Him, despite the prior statement of feeling rejected. The tension between God's perceived absence and the absolute need for His presence creates a profound plea for reversal and restoration of divine favor in battle.

Psalm 108 11 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of confidence (from Ps 108:1-5 / Ps 57) and the stark lament of perceived abandonment (Ps 108:6-13 / Ps 60) reveals a profound theological insight. It demonstrates that genuine faith is not the absence of doubt or struggle, but the persistence of addressing God even when one feels rejected or unheard. This mirrors the Christian experience where believers face trials and difficulties, sometimes feeling distant from God, yet continue to pray and cling to His promises (Matt 27:46). The ultimate resolution in Psalm 108 (which continues beyond verse 11 with renewed confidence in God's promises in vv. 12-13) suggests that such desperate cries often precede a fresh experience of divine intervention and victory, serving as a powerful reminder that God uses trials to refine faith and to draw His people back into complete dependence on Him, not on human strength or political alliances.

Psalm 108 11 Commentary

Psalm 108:11 is a potent cry from a people who feel forsaken by their God in a moment of acute national vulnerability, specifically in battle. It reflects a core Israelite understanding that their military success was contingent on Yahweh's active participation and leadership. The perceived "rejection" (zanah) indicates not merely an absence, but an active turning away by God, often understood in the Old Testament as a consequence of national sin or disobedience, leading to severe trials. Despite this bitter complaint, the very act of voicing it to God, even with such stark language, underscores a continued, albeit desperate, faith. They address "O God" (Elohim), acknowledging His supreme authority and His capacity to change their circumstances, implicitly appealing to His covenant faithfulness even when they feel unworthy or punished. This dual dynamic – the lament of feeling rejected and the persistent plea for divine presence – is characteristic of many Psalms, illustrating the raw honesty of faith that wrestling with God's perceived absence while clinging to the hope of His eventual return and salvation. The verse thus sets the stage for a dramatic turnaround, a plea that expects God to eventually respond.