Hebrew Word Study – Even – Aph – אַף  Aleph Pei 

Psalms 108:1: “O God, my heart is fixed, I will sing and give praise even with my glory.” 

Ever have one of those times when you carry a burden that just so overwhelms you that you can’t even pray.  You try to pray, but it is just such an effort, you feel so weighted down.

This is the way David felt when he started to write this Psalm.  You read this Psalm and it appears like one of his lighter moments.   He seems so joyful, so happy.  Yet, this first verse gives his true emotions away.

He calls out to God saying that his heart is fixed.  The word for fixed is “kon” which has the idea of being established or directed. Today we would say his heart was focused.   His heart was not focus on God but on his burden.  It is for this reason that he will sing and give praise.

The word for “praise” that is used here is “zamar.”  This is a very focused praised.  The word also is used for cutting or pruning.  This is a very direct praise, no fluff, no disjointed or meaningless words, but a very specific praise.  The word is also in a piel form with a paragogic he.   This makes this direct praise very intense.  David is putting his whole being into this praise.

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Then he says: “Even with my glory.”  The word for glory is “kavod” which means heaviness.  It can also mean burdensome or grievous.  I suppose we could say that David praises God with his glory, whatever that would mean.  However, I would be more incline to use “kavod” to express the idea of a heavy burden.  It would fit the context better.

David is overwhelmed with some heavy burden.  His heart is so fixed on this issue that he can not praise or worship God.  So he says he will sing a song of praise.  Not just any praise. He could praise God for His power, for His majesty, etc.   David has done this many times, but right now that is not the praise that he can offer.  So the praise he offers is with his burden.  The word “even” is “aph” which is often translated as “indeed” or “furthermore.”   “I will praise you indeed with my burden.”  

David is not ignoring his burden, or pretending it does not exist.  He is simply bringing God into the picture.  He is entering into an intense praise with his burden right out there, out in front.  He and God are going to share this burden.   As you read the rest of the Psalm you find David talking about the awesome power of God, his control over everything and in that light, the weight of his burden get’s lighter and lighter. 

Sometimes the burdens of this life can weight you down so much, you just want to crawl under yon rock from whence you came and shut everything out.  You can try that but the burden will still be there.  You  could also choose, like David, to worship and praise God in the midst of that burden.  You can let Him share that burden with you and as you do, it will get lighter and lighter.

 

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