by Read Psalm 60
The title of Psalm 60 takes us to 2 Samuel 8, where David united the 12 tribes before turning his attention to securing and expanding Israel’s borders: “To the chief Musician upon Shu’-shan-e’-duth, Mich’-tam of David, to teach; when he strove with A’-ram-na-ha-ra’-im and with A’-ram-zo’-bah, when Jo’-ab returned, and smote of E’-dom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.”
In 2 Samuel 8:1-3, “David smote the Philistines” to the west and “smote Moab” to the east, then turned his attention to “king of Zobah” in the far north. David’s mistake was assuming Edom to the south was weak and of no significance. As a result, in 8:4 David took thousands to battle in the north against Syria leaving only hundreds to defend Jerusalem and the southern border. While David was battling in the north, weak little Edom decided to attack, and the few men David had left behind were defeated.
David put Israel in a perilous position. At his own hands, doing a good thing, it seemed all his hard-won victories were about to be swallowed in defeat. Geographically, he was over 200 miles away. It would take weeks to move his vast army from Israel’s northern border to the southern border. The enemies to the east and west were weak, but they too could easily move in on Jerusalem before David would arrive.
This is where we come to Psalm 60. David was facing an unexpected war on two fronts! Though the title of Psalm 60 reads as a victory, this Psalm suggests substantial damage came to Israel. David understood victory and defeat; this Psalm is a prayer for victory over his enemies. God valiantly answered, teaching a valuable lesson on where our victory comes from. David had nothing to offer, whereas 60:4 says God “hast given” the victory. “hast given” means that victory is not attained but received. This gives us the hope found in 2 Corinthians 15:57, the eternal victory that we are unable to attain comes wholly from God “which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The victory David received is available to us in a similar manner. Here is how he received it:
- Victory came by the FEAR of God (60:4)
- Victory came by the LOVE of God (60:5)
- Victory came by the WORD of God (60:6-8)
- Victory came by the PRESENCE of God (60:9-10)
- Victory came by the HELP of God (60:11-12)
Psalm 60 ends with a victorious promise, “THROUGH GOD WE SHALL DO VALIANTLY: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.” (Psalms 60:12)
