A PRAYER FOR RESTORATION AND VICTORY

Passage: Psalms 60:1-12

Key verse: 1

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)

Read full chapter
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.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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.

Read full chapter
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

This Psalm is David’s desperate prayer after God has seemingly rejected his people, bringing a military defeat and hardships on them. They were in desperate times, with everything in a state of confusion. David plainly confesses the pain of their situation. The content of his request is simple: “Restore us!” It is right for us to pray for God’s restoration of our lives and our land when we are afflicted.

Then David remembers that the fear of God brings a powerful defense (4). He remembers God’s promise that all the tribes of Israel are his possession (6-7). God never actually rejected his people, and he would give them their inheritance in the end. Like David, we can remember that God is the owner of everything and that he will finally win the victory over all forces of darkness. In the last verses, David prays with more confidence, preparing to march out again bravely, and asks God to lead the armies of Israel (9-12). Our desperate prayer can also end with confidence of victory and a new decision to engage in spiritual battle.

Prayer: Father, we are your people and your possession. Even though we face hardships and loss, we believe you lead us to victory. Restore us again!

One Word: Lord, lead your people to victory