God alone provides the path to victory despite overwhelming obstacles.
David continues his psalm by wondering aloud, “Who will bring me into the besieged city? Who will lead me to Edom?” (v.10) He seems keenly aware of his own limitations: he cannot conquer, or even confidently enter, a fortified place by his own power. Although this verse is brief, it carries a deep sense of dependence on God. David, who reigned as King of Israel from about 1010 BC to 970 BC, did not trust in military strength alone; instead, he desperately aimed to rely upon the Lord to grant him the final victory. This question reveals a heart that sees the complexities of life’s challenges and recognizes a need for supernatural guidance (see also John 15:5).
The picture of a “besieged city” gives a sense of high defenses and challenging strongholds. In the ancient Near East, walled cities were critical strategic locations, making them difficult to breach. David then specifically mentions “Edom” (v.10), a region located southeast of the Dead Sea, in what is now southern Jordan. This land was often hostile to Israel, and its rocky and mountainous terrain provided many natural defenses. By invoking Edom, David points to a place that was not only physically challenging but also symbolically connected to conflict and enmity with Israel (2 Chronicles 28:17). The psalmist is making a clear statement that without God, even the most skilled commander would falter in such a strong environment.
Through David’s call for someone to bring him to the fortified city and to Edom, the psalm underlines the theme repeated throughout Scripture that victory and security ultimately rely on God. In the New Testament, we see how Jesus is the One who delivers believers from spiritual strongholds (Colossians 1:13). Even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, David’s question remains relevant to believers today—only the Lord can truly lead us to triumph.
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Psalms 108:10 meaning
David continues his psalm by wondering aloud, “Who will bring me into the besieged city? Who will lead me to Edom?” (v.10) He seems keenly aware of his own limitations: he cannot conquer, or even confidently enter, a fortified place by his own power. Although this verse is brief, it carries a deep sense of dependence on God. David, who reigned as King of Israel from about 1010 BC to 970 BC, did not trust in military strength alone; instead, he desperately aimed to rely upon the Lord to grant him the final victory. This question reveals a heart that sees the complexities of life’s challenges and recognizes a need for supernatural guidance (see also John 15:5).
The picture of a “besieged city” gives a sense of high defenses and challenging strongholds. In the ancient Near East, walled cities were critical strategic locations, making them difficult to breach. David then specifically mentions “Edom” (v.10), a region located southeast of the Dead Sea, in what is now southern Jordan. This land was often hostile to Israel, and its rocky and mountainous terrain provided many natural defenses. By invoking Edom, David points to a place that was not only physically challenging but also symbolically connected to conflict and enmity with Israel (2 Chronicles 28:17). The psalmist is making a clear statement that without God, even the most skilled commander would falter in such a strong environment.
Through David’s call for someone to bring him to the fortified city and to Edom, the psalm underlines the theme repeated throughout Scripture that victory and security ultimately rely on God. In the New Testament, we see how Jesus is the One who delivers believers from spiritual strongholds (Colossians 1:13). Even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, David’s question remains relevant to believers today—only the Lord can truly lead us to triumph.