VICTORY WITH GOD

Passage: Psalms 60:1-12

Key verse: 11,12

NIV

Psalm 60[a](A)
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam[b] of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim[c] and Aram Zobah,[d] and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.(B)

1 You have rejected us,(C) God, and burst upon us;
    you have been angry(D)—now restore us!(E)
2 You have shaken the land(F) and torn it open;
    mend its fractures,(G) for it is quaking.
3 You have shown your people desperate times;(H)
    you have given us wine that makes us stagger.(I)
4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner(J)
    to be unfurled against the bow.[e]

5 Save us and help us with your right hand,(K)
    that those you love(L) may be delivered.
6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:
    “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem(M)
    and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.(N)
7 Gilead(O) is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim(P) is my helmet,
    Judah(Q) is my scepter.(R)
8 Moab is my washbasin,
    on Edom I toss my sandal;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.(S)”

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?(T)
11 Give us aid against the enemy,
    for human help is worthless.(U)
12 With God we will gain the victory,
    and he will trample down our enemies.(V)

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 60:1 In Hebrew texts 60:1-12 is numbered 60:3-14.
  2. Psalm 60:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of Northwest Mesopotamia
  4. Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of central Syria
  5. Psalm 60:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
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Source: BibleGateway

ESV

He Will Tread Down Our Foes

To the choirmaster: according to (A)Shushan Eduth. A (B)Miktam[a] of David; (C)for instruction; when he (D)strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return struck down twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.

60 O God, (E)you have rejected us, (F)broken our defenses;
    you have been angry; (G)oh, restore us.
2 You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open;
    (H)repair its breaches, for it totters.
3 (I)You have made your people see hard things;
    (J)you have given us (K)wine to drink that made us stagger.

4 You have set up (L)a banner for those who fear you,
    that they may flee to it (M)from the bow.[b] Selah
5 (N)That your (O)beloved ones may be delivered,
    give salvation by your right hand and answer us!

6 God has spoken (P)in his holiness:[c]
    “With exultation (Q)I will divide up (R)Shechem
    and portion out the Vale of (S)Succoth.
7 (T)Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
    (U)Ephraim is (V)my helmet;
    Judah is my (W)scepter.
8 (X)Moab is my washbasin;
    upon Edom I (Y)cast my shoe;
    over (Z)Philistia I shout in triumph.”[d]

9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    (AA)Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Have you not (AB)rejected us, O God?
    You (AC)do not go forth, O God, with our armies.
11 Oh, grant us help against the foe,
    for (AD)vain is the salvation of man!
12 With God we shall (AE)do valiantly;
    it is he who will (AF)tread down our foes.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 60:1 Probably musical or liturgical terms
  2. Psalm 60:4 Or that it may be displayed because of truth
  3. Psalm 60:6 Or sanctuary
  4. Psalm 60:8 Revocalization (compare Psalm 108:10); Masoretic Text over me, O Philistia, shout in triumph
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. You have been angry, now restore (1-4)

Israel had been weak and disunited, and had suffered defeat in the last days of Saul. The deep fracture in the land continued for seven years after Saul's death. Then David was crowned king of the united kingdom. David loved God, and God gave him victory wherever he went. God raised a banner of victory (4) over him. David united the northern and southern parts of Israel to make one united kingdom, then he secured his borders and expanded the empire (1Ch 18 & 19). This Psalm celebrates his victories. David was God's appointed shepherd for his people.

2. With God we will gain the victory (5-12)

God blessed his servant David with victory. God spoke from his sanctuary about his people: 'Ephraim (Northern Israel) is my helmet; Judah is my scepter.' God's enemies who had harassed the people for so long--Moab, Edom, Philistia--were defeated. David concluded, 'Man's help is worthless; with God we will gain victory.' God's people need a shepherd who loves God.

Prayer: Lord, forgive my foolishness in looking to weak human beings for help. You alone give victory.

One Word: With God we have victory