THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - October 2, 2014 - Psalm 60

Have you ever felt like no matter how hard to try and do the right thing for God it just seems like the enemy has overtaken you? David writes of this type of situation in Psalm 60. Having picked up where Joshua had left off David was determined to have victory over all of those who threaten the kingdom God had promised to Israel. But defeat had come along. David knew God’s promises are true so he ponders the cause of the defeat.

Psalm 60:1-10
You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us; you have been angry--now restore us! You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking. You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger. But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow. Selah Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. God has spoken from his sanctuary: "In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter. Moab is my washbasin, upon Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph." Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? Is it not you, O God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?

David simply refuses to roll over in defeat. What David does is to look inward to find out where he went wrong. He humbles himself and realizes that sometimes one can take on fights on too many fronts. He understands that if we go ahead of God defeat is sure. He knows that our battles cannot be won in our own power but only in God’s. Notice what he says about man in verse 11.

Psalm 60:11
Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.

The help of man is worthless. When we rely on our flesh or on the flesh of man we are not following God’s method. Too often in this world the church turns to man. We use the psychology of man and try to integrate its principles into our ministry. We don’t need them. God has given us His Holy Word to lead us and put His Holy Spirit within us to teach us its truths and to guide us through it in every battle we face. David realized his folly and turned back to God for help.

Psalm 60:12
With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.

Do you want victory over your enemies? Call on God. Victory in all things can be gained in Christ. Victory over every enemy we face depends on Him not our strength our wisdom, but on us. We must walk in the Spirit. Otherwise we will fall to the enemy and his tricks.

Galatians 5:16-17
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

Hear the Word of God my friends from Zechariah 4:6, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.”

Don't go where God hasn't yet called you and let Him be the force that drives you. David sums it up best. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies