Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

PSALM 60: WITH GOD’S HELP WE WILL DO MIGHTY THINGS Raised From Defeat

David has recovered from personal defeats before but now he must overcome a major national cri- sis. The Edomites had successfully invaded his kingdom but David finds renewed strength as God prophesies the defeat of his enemy. This is the most militaristic of all the psalms and he prepares to at- tack not only the invading army but also their capitol city of ‘Petra.’ Christ is portrayed as the ‘banner’ raised up for all who have experienced defeat in life. The psalm is divided into three sections:

I COMPLAINING PRAYER- 1-4 (Interlude) II CONFIRMING PROPHECY- 5-8 III CONQUERING PETRA- 9-12

INTRODUCTION:

This is the longest of all the psalm titles painting the historical background for the thoughts expressed in the poem. • “For the choir director: A psalm of David useful for teaching…” This is the last of the ‘golden’ psalms, (michtams, 16, 56-60) of David that endure untarnished for ages to come. It is labeled a ‘teach- ing psalm’ and perhaps was memorized by each successive generation. • “ regarding the time David fought Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah…” This describes David’s war with the Ammonites, Aramaeans and a powerful confederacy of nations from the east side of the Jordan river all the way to the region of modern day Iraq. The battle is noted in 1 Chronicles 19:6- “…so Hanun (king of the Ammonites) and the Ammonites sent thirty-eight tons of silver to hire chariots and troops from Aram-naharim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah. They also hired thirty-two thousand chariots and secured the support of the king of Maacah and his army. These forces…were joined by the Am- monite troops that Hanun had recruited from his own towns.” David was heavily outnumbered as he braced himself for the greatest battle of his military career. “When David heard about this, he sent Joab and all his warriors to fight them.” Joab attacked the Ammonite army while his brother Abishai attacked the Aramaens and God gave them a mighty victory. • “and Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.” The Edomites from the southeast side of the Jordan assumed that David could not possibly defeat the Ammonites and Aramaens in battle and took advantage of his absence to attack and plunder Israel. After David won the great battle with the Ammonite confederation he sent Joab and Abishai to fight the Edomites in the Val- ley of Salt located in southern Judah. This psalm was composed between David’s victory over the Am- monite/Aramaens and the invasion of Israel by the Edomites. • “To be sung to the tune “Lily of the Testimony.” Delitzsch says this part of the inscription is an instruction to play this song ‘in connection with the practice of the bow 1 .’ The young warriors of Israel would shoot arrows and listen to music that recounted the greatest of David’s military victories! After his stunning win over the massive eastern armies David hears about the devastation Edom has inflicted upon his kingdom. His prayer begins with 3 negative comparisons and yet the 4th brings hope to his armies. 1. Broken defenses- “You have rejected us, O God, and broken our defenses. You have been angry with us; now restore us to your favor.”(1) God’s rejection of his people for an unnamed cause has resulted in the nation becoming like a fortress whose walls have been broken down. Without God’s favor, we have no protection and our enemies can attack us freely. 2. An Earthquake- “You have shaken our land and split it open. Seal the cracks before it com- pletely collapses.” (2) The effects of the invasion are likened to the devastation caused by an earth- quake. Spiritual earthquakes disrupt every normal function of life and can shake everything but our faith. 3. The Drunken Person- “You have been very hard on us, making us drink wine that sent us reel- ing.” (3) The Israelites are stunned by the sudden intrusion of this brutal army. They walk about in a drunken state of shock not knowing what to do. A defeated life is very hard and difficult. I COMPLAINING PRAYER - 1-4

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