Psalm 108:2 kjv
Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
Psalm 108:2 nkjv
Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.
Psalm 108:2 niv
Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
Psalm 108:2 esv
Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!
Psalm 108:2 nlt
Wake up, lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
Psalm 108 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 5:3 | In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning… | Eager morning prayer for God's attention |
| Ps 63:1 | O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts | Deep yearning for God early |
| Ps 119:147 | I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for your words. | Early rising to seek God and His word |
| Isa 26:9 | My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit | Diligent seeking of God in the morning |
| Ps 57:8 | Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. | Direct parallel for enthusiastic praise |
| Ps 33:2-3 | Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the… | Calls to use instruments for praise |
| Ps 92:1-3 | It is good to praise the Lord… proclaiming your love in… | Highlights morning praise with instruments |
| Ps 150:3-5 | Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with | Universal call for instrumental praise |
| 1 Chr 25:6 | All these were under the supervision of their father for… | Organized instrumental worship in service |
| Ps 9:1 | I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will | Wholehearted gratitude and praise |
| Ps 86:12 | I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will | Devoted, full-hearted praise |
| Ps 111:1 | Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my… | Gives thanks with undivided heart |
| Rom 13:11 | Besides this, you know the time, that the hour has come for | Call to spiritual awakening |
| Eph 5:14 | "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will | Commands spiritual arousal and light |
| Ps 44:23 | Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject | Psalmist urging God to act (similar verb) |
| Joel 3:9 | Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the | Call to "rouse" or prepare for action |
| 2 Tim 2:15 | Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a | Diligence and zeal in service to God |
| Num 24:17 | A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of | Prophecy of Messiah as rising light/ruler |
| Mal 4:2 | But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness… | God/Messiah as the rising source of light |
| Lk 1:78-79 | …by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to… | Christ identified as the "dayspring" or dawn |
| 2 Pet 1:19 | …until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your… | Anticipation of spiritual dawn in the heart |
| Rev 22:16 | "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright | Christ as the "Morning Star" |
Psalm 108 verses
Psalm 108 2 Meaning
Psalm 108:2 declares the psalmist's resolute determination to offer passionate and musical praise to God. It depicts a state of proactive worship, where the psalmist awakens musical instruments and even sets the earliest hours of the day in motion to facilitate praise. It signifies a profound and eager devotion, ready to praise God fully and immediately, not waiting for inspiration but actively stirring it.
Psalm 108 2 Context
Psalm 108 is a composite psalm, formed by combining parts of Psalm 57 (verses 1-5 come from Ps 57:7-11) and Psalm 60 (verses 6-13 come from Ps 60:5-12). Attributed to David, the psalm begins with a fervent declaration of steadfast heart and ready praise, even amidst adversity or prior pleas for help. This particular verse (108:2), taken from Psalm 57, expresses the psalmist's personal resolve to dedicate himself fully to praise, emphasizing a prepared spirit of worship and a commitment to begin it early. It forms the preamble to a larger prayer for divine intervention and victory in a national crisis, showing that confident praise precedes earnest petition.
Psalm 108 2 Word analysis
- Awake (עוּרָה - 'Urah): This is an imperative verb, a command, meaning "arise!", "stir up!", or "awake!". It suggests an active, deliberate rousing. Here, it is personifying the instruments, commanding them to be ready for use, symbolizing the psalmist's own intentional preparedness for worship rather than waiting for external inspiration.
- harp (נֵבֶל - nevel): A stringed instrument, typically a lyre-like instrument, possibly larger than the kinnor, associated with worship and joyous musical expression in ancient Israel. It denotes the psalmist's intent to use skilled musical artistry in praise.
- and lyre (וְכִנּוֹר - v'kinnor): The 'kinnor' is another stringed instrument, often translated as lyre, likely smaller and more portable than the 'nevel'. It was famously played by King David himself. The inclusion of both suggests the full range of musical resources and capabilities are being called forth for God's glory.
- I will awaken (אָעִירָה - a'irah): This verb is in the future tense, first person singular, demonstrating a strong, active commitment by the psalmist. It shares the same root as "awake" ('ur), reinforcing the theme of deliberate arousal. It's not passive, but a determined act.
- the dawn (שַׁחַר - shachar): Literally "dawn," "morning twilight," or "first light." This is a striking poetic image. Instead of being awakened by the dawn to praise, the psalmist declares he will "awaken the dawn" by starting his praise even before it breaks fully. It signifies his unparalleled zeal and determination to be among the very first to glorify God, placing praise as the paramount priority of the day.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Awake, harp and lyre!": This vivid personification expresses the psalmist's eagerness and urgency to begin praise. It is not merely a request for instruments to be ready, but a metaphorical awakening of all faculties and tools for devoted worship. It embodies a proactive and fervent spirit, not waiting for inspiration but actively calling forth every means for musical praise.
- "I will awaken the dawn.": This phrase captures the height of the psalmist's zeal. It highlights a worship so passionate that it anticipates the natural cycle, setting the pace for the day rather than being dictated by it. It demonstrates an extreme level of dedication, wanting to dedicate the very earliest moments of the day to God. This can be understood as starting praise before the first light or with the first hint of light. It also suggests that the psalmist's praise itself ushers in a new day or new era of God's favor, setting a spiritual tone for the coming day or for national breakthrough. This contrasts with pagan sun worship, where people awaited the sun's rising; here, the worshipper's zeal precedes and embraces the natural rhythm with divine purpose.
Psalm 108 2 Bonus section
The active "awakening" demonstrated in this verse, both of instruments and of the dawn itself, serves as a profound metaphor for intentionality in the Christian life. It challenges believers to cultivate a zealous and disciplined spiritual life, not passively waiting for favorable circumstances but actively pursuing God. The psalmist's decision to be the first to praise echoes throughout the Scriptures in themes of diligence (Prov 8:17, Seek Me diligently), preparedness (Matt 25:1-13, Parable of the Ten Virgins), and not wasting time but making the most of every opportunity (Eph 5:16). This verse also reminds us of the value of creative expression in worship, with the mention of instruments like the harp and lyre highlighting the beauty and artistry that can be employed in glorifying God.
Psalm 108 2 Commentary
Psalm 108:2 pulsates with intense devotion. The psalmist is not content with a passive form of worship, nor is he waiting for ideal conditions or spiritual warmth to appear. Instead, he commands his instruments to be ready, symbolizing his entire being prepared for praise. The bold declaration, "I will awaken the dawn," elevates this resolve to an extraordinary level. It suggests a worshiper so fervent that he will begin his praise even before the sun crests the horizon, metaphorically dictating the start of the day through his worship rather than waiting for it. This isn't about controlling nature, but about prioritizing God with every fiber of his being, making worship the first and most immediate act. This proactive and pre-dawn praise sets a pattern of diligence and zealous commitment for all believers, underscoring that our praise for God should be unhesitating, wholehearted, and precede all other endeavors. It reflects a heart that deeply yearns to honor God without delay, signaling a profound love and unwavering trust.