Saturday, December 3, 2011

O God, You Have Cast Us Off

This psalm appears to be regarding conquests of enemy lands. It starts off seemingly like Israel's army has displeased God in some way. Yet the psalmist is a believer and trusts God to deliver the enemy nations to his hand, such as Shechem, Gilead, Moab, Edom, Philistia and so on. Finally he acknowledges that any victory is from God, who treads down the enemy.

Psalm 60
To the Chief Musician. Set to “Lily of the Testimony.”[a] A Michtam of David. For teaching. When he fought against Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah, and Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

 1 O God, You have cast us off;
         You have broken us down;
         You have been displeased;
         Oh, restore us again!
 2 You have made the earth tremble;
         You have broken it;
         Heal its breaches, for it is shaking.
 3 You have shown Your people hard things;
         You have made us drink the wine of confusion.
        
 4 You have given a banner to those who fear You,
         That it may be displayed because of the truth.  Selah 
 5 That Your beloved may be delivered,
         Save with Your right hand, and hear me.
        
 6 God has spoken in His holiness:
         “I will rejoice;
         I will divide Shechem
         And measure out the Valley of Succoth.
 7 Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine;
         Ephraim also is the helmet for My head;
         Judah is My lawgiver.
 8 Moab is My washpot;
         Over Edom I will cast My shoe;
         Philistia, shout in triumph because of Me.”
        
 9 Who will bring me to the strong city?
         Who will lead me to Edom?
 10 Is it not You, O God, who cast us off?
         And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies?
 11 Give us help from trouble,
         For the help of man is useless.
 12 Through God we will do valiantly,
         For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Total Pageviews