Psalms 60

According to the superscription, this psalm is a part of the history recorded in 2 Samuel 8:1–14 and 10:6–18 and 1 Chronicles 18:1–13 and 19:6–19, when David was winning battles and getting a name for himself (2 Sam. 8:13). While he was up north fighting the Arameans (Syrians), the Edomites attacked Israel from the south, doing a great deal of damage. David dispatched Joab with part of the army, and Joab and Abishai (1 Chron. 18:12) defeated Edom in the Valley of Salt, south of the Dead Sea. David must have written the psalm shortly after hearing the bad news of the invasion by Edom, but the psalm manifests a spirit of trust and confidence that the Lord would give Israel the victory, and He did. The musical direction means “Lily of the testimony [covenant].” (See 45, 69, 80.)

The plural pronouns indicate that David was speaking to the Lord for the Israelites who felt themselves abandoned by God. The initial victory of Edom hit Israel like water bursting through a broken dam (v. 1; 2 Sam. 5:20) or an earthquake shaking the entire country (v. 2). The people acted like they were drunk on wine, staggering in bewilderment from place to place (v. 3; 75:8; Isa. 51:17, 22). David interpreted Israel’s defeat as a sign that God had rejected His people (44:9–16; 89:38–45). However, being a man of faith, he didn’t give up but rallied the people around the Lord’s banner (v. 4; 20:5). Israel’s God is “Jehovah Nissi—the Lord our Banner” (Ex. 17:15). David knew that Israel was God’s own people, His beloved people (“David” means “beloved”) who feared Him, and that God had covenanted to give them success against their enemies (2 Sam. 7:9–11). In David’s heart, faith was conquering fear.

How David received this message from the Lord isn’t explained to us, but he was quick to believe it and pass it along to the people. The message describes Jehovah as a Warrior who defeated the nations in Canaan and divided the land among His people (vv. 6–7; see Ex.15:3, 13–18; Josh. 18:10). Shechem was the chief city in Ephraim, and with Succoth, was located west of the Jordan River, while Gilead and Manasseh (the halftribe) were east of the Jordan River. The patriarch Jacob was connected with both Succoth and Shechem (Gen. 33:17–18). Ephraim was a strong tribe, called to defend Israel (“helmet”); and Judah was chosen to be the royal tribe, bearing the scepter (Gen. 49:10). The Lord didn’t give the land to His people so they might lose it to their enemies! The Lord spoke with disdain of the enemies who attacked Israel, for both Edom and Moab were known for their arrogance (Isa. 16:6–14; Obad.; and see Ex. 15:14–15; Num. 20:14–21). In God’s eyes, Moab was nothing but a basin used for washing dirty feet, and Edom was a servant who cleaned dirty shoes! (David was related to the Moabites; see Ruth 4:13–22.) As for Israel’s perpetual enemies, the Philistines, over them God would “raise the shout of victory” (v. 8 ). David claimed these promises by faith, sent part of the army led by Joab and Abishai to the south to fight Moab, and later joined them for a great victory. Fighting on two fronts isn’t easy, but God gave the victory.

David earnestly prayed that the Lord would honor His Word and give His beloved people victory over their enemies, and the Lord answered. David made it clear that he wasn’t looking back at the defeat (vv. 9–10). He was the kind of leader who looked to the future and trusted the Lord. The “fortified city” was probably Petra (or Sela), the capital of Edom. David didn’t interpret one setback as the sign of total defeat. He was making a great name for himself by his many victories, so perhaps he needed this one defeat to humble him and drive him closer to the Lord. David didn’t trust in himself or in his capable officers or his valiant soldiers (v. 11). He trusted fully in the Lord, and the Lord honored his faith. The enemy would be completely defeated—trampled into the dirt—and Israel would triumph. Israel rallied to the “banner of God’s truth” (v. 4), and the Lord gave them victory (1 John 5:4). “Edom will be conquered; Seir [Edom], his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong” (Num. 24: niv).