November 8, 2017 (Wednesday)
David is in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) winning battles, but an earthquake causes him to believe God has forsaken him and his people. This may have been an actual earthquake or a metaphor for dangerous times. David is convinced God has left them and he prays very hard for God to come back to them. God reassures Israel that they are his people above all others. This is the last of the Psalms of David in which we have the historical setting.
Psalm 60
New International Version (NIV)
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.”
A miktam of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaimand Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
I. DISASTER HAS BEFALLEN ISRAEL (1-4)
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.
II. A PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE AND VICTORY
5 Save us and help us with your right hand,
that those you love may be delivered.
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.”
III. ONLY GOD CAN HELP (9-12)
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.
New International Version (NIV)
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.”
A miktam of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaimand Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
I. DISASTER HAS BEFALLEN ISRAEL (1-4)
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.
II. A PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE AND VICTORY
5 Save us and help us with your right hand,
that those you love may be delivered.
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.”
III. ONLY GOD CAN HELP (9-12)
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.