Psalms Reading – 2.25.2022
Psalm 60
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
1 You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us;
you have been angry—now restore us!
2 You have shaken the land and torn it open;
mend its fractures, for it is quaking.
3 You have shown your people desperate times;
you have given us wine that makes us stagger.
4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner
to be unfurled against the bow.
you have been angry—now restore us!
2 You have shaken the land and torn it open;
mend its fractures, for it is quaking.
3 You have shown your people desperate times;
you have given us wine that makes us stagger.
4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner
to be unfurled against the bow.
5 Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.
6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:
6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:
“In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah is my scepter.
8 Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah is my scepter.
8 Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?
11 Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.
12 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.
10 Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?
11 Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.
12 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.
This psalm’s historical backdrop is likely the events of 2 Samuel 8:1-14. It continues the series of psalms dealing with David’s enemies which, also, emphasizes the theme of God as our refuge.
The introduction states this psalm is for teaching. This is the only time this occurs in a title in the Psalms. David offers this as an example of how to pray during a national crisis just as Jesus gave us a model of how to pray on any day.
Israel is in the midst of several battles on several fronts. The Moabites to the east were descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, and were distantly related to the Israelites. The Edomites to the southeast were descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother, and thus were also related to the Israelites. The Philistine territory was southwest along the Mediterranean coast and were among the most feared of Israel’s enemies. All three neighbors were hostile to Israel.
David said that God was showing Israel desperate times, the land was shaken and quaking, they felt dejected, and no longer believed God was with them. In the midst of such harsh times in life, we may feel the same. We may feel surrounded and abandoned, left to fend off life by ourselves.
However, in the midst of such dire times, David was able to muster enough faith to ask God to save them and declared in faith that with God they would gain the victory. And they did! And so will we!
Memory Verse: Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
Question(s) to Consider: Do you feel surrounded by many circumstances and abandoned by God? In spite of what you feel, will you call out, cry out to God for help and declare in faith that with Him you will gain the victory?