Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 60

What happens when you find yourself in the hands of defeat? We’ve all been there. It just seems as if God is against us. In Psalm 60, we find David right there.

Psalm 60:1-3

O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us. You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.

But take notice of where David is as he laments his struggle; He is in prayer talking to God about it. David recognizes the sovereignty of God. David knows that his enemies, though they may currently appear to be in control, are not. David knows it is God who not only can, but will deliver him out of his sorrow.

Psalm 60:4-5
You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah  That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us!

As Christians, we are still prone to fall into fear, especially when surrounded by the enemy. But it is God and God alone who we should fear.

Psalm 60:6-8
God has spoken in his holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth.  Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter.  Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

If we want to live in victory, we must trust God to be the one who takes us there. God speaks in His holiness. Rather than drift into self-pity over our plight, we must trust God and have faith in Him. God speaks and things happen. He spoke the very creation into existence. But God speaks in holiness. That must be where we turn to.

Psalm 60:9-10
Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?  Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.

The answer to the questions above are found within His Holy Word. If we will open our Bibles, we will find the promises we need. God has spoken to us in His holiness.

Psalm 60:11-12
Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!  With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.

The answer is simple; trust in God to tread down our foes. Vain is the salvation of man.

God has spoken in His holiness. But we must learn to listen in holiness.