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[1] “Selah,” occurs 71 times in the Psalter and 3 times in Habakkuk 3. 39 out of the 150 Psalms contain the term and of these 39 it occurs in Psalms addressed "to the Chief Musician." It occurs four times in the middle of verses (55:19; 57:3; Hab 3:3, 9) and in four cases two Psalms are connected by it (Psalms 3–4; 9–10; 24–25; 46–47) (Leslie McFall, "The Evidence for a Logical Arrangement of the Psalter"; Westminster Theological Journal Vol. 62, Page 223ff.). The term “may have served as a breath marker, an indicator to musicians to enter, or simply as an affirmation of what had just been said” (Anchor Bible Dictionary). Interestingly, and perhaps significantly, the verses appropriated by Psalm 108 are taken after the “Selah” in 57:6 (Psalm 108:1-5 with 57:7-11) and after the “Selah” in 60:4 (Psalm 108:6-13 with 60:5-11). |
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[2] The Hebrew word for “lovingkindness”, Ḥesed, occurs some 245 times in the OT, of which slightly more than half (127) are found in the Psalter (The Anchor Bible Dictionary). |
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[3] The phrase “lovingkindness and truth” is one that occurs some 35x in the OT 24 of which are found in the Psalms (Gen.24:27; 32:10; 47:29; Exod. 34:6,7; 2 Sam. 2:6; 1 Ki. 3:6; Ps. 25:10; 26:3; 36:5; 40:10,11; 57:3,10; 61:7; 69:13; 85:10; 86:15; 88:11; 89:1,2,14,24,33; 92:2; 98:3; 100:5; 108:4; 115:1; 117:2; 138:2; Prov. 16:6; 20:28; Isa.16:5; Hos.4:1; cf. Psalm 119:59-60). |
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[4] The root for “glory” (כָבֵד [kābēd]) with its derivatives occurs 376 times in the Hebrew Bible. It is especially prominent in the Psalms 64x; Isa.63x; Exodus 33x; Ezek.25x and Prov.24x. When the Psalmist says in v.8, “Awake, my glory!” he is using “glory” with the sense of praise (see Psalm 64:10). It seems to me that “glory” is the opposite of “shame” (cf. Psalm 25:2; 97:6-7; Hosea 4:7; Phil.3:19). God hears and answers and therefore he will not be ashamed by the triumph of his enemies. In fact, the Psalmists glory will lead to the glory/praise of the Lord being made known to the ends of the earth (see Zephaniah 3:19-20). |
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[5] Repetition of refrains in Psalms are also found in: 8:1,9; 42:5,11 with 43:5; 46:7,11; 49:12,20; 56:4,11; 57:5,11; 59:6,14; 59:9,17; 62:2,6; 80:3,7,19; 99:5,9; 107:8,15,21,31; 107:6,13,19,28; 136. It is also found in Israel’s “first Psalm” (Exodus 15:1,21). |
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[6]
Verses 7-11 are nearly identical to
Psalm 108:1-5; in fact, Psalm 108 is a combination of Psalm 57:7-11 (108:1-5)
+ Psalm 60:5-11 (108:6-13). Or did
Psalms 57 and 60 draw from Psalm 108 with some alteration? |
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[7] Verse 11 is akin to Psalm 36:5, “Your lovingkindness, O Yahweh, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” |
