Psalm 60

“Who will bring me to the strong city? Who will lead me to Edom? Is it not You, O God, who cast us off? And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies? Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies.”  Psalm 60:9-12 (NKJV)

Today’s psalm is known as  “A Michtam of David, for teaching…when Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.”  God is so gracious to us. In addition to giving us the theology of the psalms, He also provides context by telling us where (in the Bible) we can reference the accounts/events through which the psalms were written.  We find the battle’s account in 2 Samuel.  

“And David made himself a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt. He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went. So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people.”  2 Samuel 8:13-15 (NKJV)

When we combine the narrative of 2 Samuel 8 with David’s testimony in Psalm 60, we get a richer understanding of what went on.  Sure, David was ultimately victorious, but not without struggle and doubt.  David begins Psalm 60 in trouble.  

“O God, You have cast us off; You have broken us down; You have been displeased; oh, restore us again!”  Psalm 60:1 (NKJV)

The campaign of battles against the Philistines, Moabites, and Edomites (which did not begin victoriously) began shortly after David assumed the throne.  David was in the midst of great opposition, not just from foreigners, but there was also massive division within the kingdom, stemming from Saul’s extended pursuit of David.  Now, David felt God was against him.  David must have been perplexed as to why victory was so difficult to achieve, since earlier, in 2 Samuel, Chapter 7, God made a covenant with David that He would establish David’s “house” forever.        

“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (NKJV)

So, today we learn three things: 1) battles are not for passive men, 2) even though kingdom success is God’s doing, He still chooses men to lead the charge, and 3) until Jesus returns, the kingdom will remain somewhat unstable under human leadership.