Presented, December 6, 2009 pm
Give us Help From Trouble
Psalm 60
The superscription
gives great detail including the occasion for writing this psalm.
·
First, it
is assigned “to the chief musician” like so many others.
·
Set to,
“Lily of the testimony”
·
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.”
What is challenging about this superscription is that we do not
have a text that matches the specific details of the events described.
There are possible conflicts that this psalm has reference to.
In 2 Samuel 8:1-14 we read of a number of conquests when David
reigned as king. It speaks
of some of the nations mentioned in our text as being subdued.
Some have also alluded to 2 Samuel 10 where David attempted to show
sympathy to Hanun, king of the nation of Ammon after his father died.
David’s show of consolation was met with humiliation as the
Ammonites saw it as an attempt for David to spy out their city.
The end result was Ammon hired the Syrians of Beth Rehod and Zoba
(10:6) to fight for them.
Joab, David’s military commander was involved in the fight.
The account concludes with victory against both Ammon and Syria.
But the challenge is that the Psalm seems to describe some occasion of
Israel being defeated or set back in some way.
Such is certainly possible pertaining to the wars described in
the above texts because they are overall descriptions.
Even though 2 Samuel 8 & 10 records victories that does not mean
Israel won every battle.
Often, historical records omitted the defeats in their wars.
·
We shall
see some lessons to learn from defeats and the usual trust in God.
a.
God
had cast them off and broken them down.
The idea of being cast off is from a Hebrew word that means to be
foul, rancid or offensive.
The point is that Israel feels as if they have been utterly rejected by
God.
They had been humbled!
Perhaps this has reference to 2 Sam. 10 where the men David sent to
Ammon, were utterly humiliated (though they did not deserve to be
treated that way).
b.
You
have been displeased -
Obviously there was some sin that plagued them (that they needed to find
out about, such as the sin of Achan at Jericho).
They knew things were NOT right with God.
c.
The
plea for restoration –
early on there is the realization of what they need.
This is where repentance begins.
The realization of sin and a desire to be restored.
Consider the prodigal son of Luke 15:17 who “came to himself” and
then sought reconciliation with his father (18-24).
d.
Vs.
2, You have made the earth tremble and have broken it.
The devastation they feel is as great as that of an earthquake.
The call for healing the breaches – again!
Why?
For it is shaking! I am reminded of a house about to fall down
which requires intense effort to save it.
It is believed that the events of our discussed texts were fairly early
in the reign of David.
Perhaps the anger of the Lord exists because of the sins of King
Saul that needed to be repaired.
e.
Vs.
3 - The afflictions are “hard things” – What they
are facing is difficult.
They may not understand why they are enduring what they are enduring.
NOTE: Sometimes it takes difficulties to wake us up!
“You
have made us drink the wine of confusion” – they are facing
troubles that they don’t understand, much like one who has been drinking
is in a stupor. He doesn’t
know where he is, etc.
f.
Lesson:
Do not despise the chastening of the Lord.
We are again reminded of Hebrews 12:5-11 where we are told of how
God chastens those whom He loves.
Friends, when things are not going great, we do not always know
the reason. There is much
good that can come from sufferings, regardless of the reasons.
But know that ONE reason we might face troubles is because we are
being chastened in whatever way God chastens us!
Sin brings consequences.
Therefore when things are not right, the FIRST thing we need to
do is look at ourselves and make sure we are what we ought to be.
Is our suffering a cause of our sins?
g.
Another
lesson: When we face troubles
and believe we are being chastened it can lead to discouragement and
frustration. DON’T GIVE UP!
a.
You
have given a banner to those who fear you.
A banner or standard served at least 3 different purposes.
I was often used as to muster or rally the troops, to guide them
into conflict and to animate the discouraged and give hope (i.e. remind
the army what they are really fighting for).
David turns from his despair to the source of his hope.
b.
That it may be displayed because of the truth.
TRUTH is the ONLY banner worth displaying!
It ought to be a banner we RALLY around!
John 17:17, 8:32 – You shall know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free. Our banner is
the cross of Christ.
c.
Vs.
5 - Deliver your beloved –
First, note that it is based upon the banner of truth.
When that banner is displayed, His beloved may be delivered and
saved. Certainly truth is
the only thing that can save us!
This is true both spiritually AND physically.
When you are sick, a doctor needs to tell you the truth so that
you can be delivered. When
there is danger, someone needs to tell you the truth.
When your soul is in jeopardy your friend will warn you about it.
ONLY then can you turn to God for deliverance!
Friends let learn from this –
God wants to deliver us! 2
Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:4 tells us that He desires all men everywhere to
be saved.
Again we see David’s CONFIDENT trust in God here!
d.
Vs.
6 – 8, “God has spoken in His holiness…”
This is followed by the mention of many nations and cities over
which God had and would demonstrate His power.
The cities mentioned here include His dividing
Shechem and the valley of Succoth
– the former was west of the Jordan and the latter was east of the
Jordan. Perhaps David
recalls how God had promised to give the land of Canaan to Israel and He
did. They received land on
both sides of the Jordan River.
It was “divided” among the brethren.
Gilead is a prominent city
east of the Jordan.
Manasseh
a tribe that possessed land on both sides, with large amounts on the
east.
Ephraim was a large rime WEST of the Jordan.
Ephraim was described as
His (God’s)
defense (or helmet) and
Judah as His lawgiver
(actually the word is scepter). God
would USE Israel to accomplish His goals.
HE DID! Ultimately,
He did this in bringing Christ to this earth.
Moab, Edom and Philistia –
all enemies of Israel and God.
Their defeat will happen.
This is the confidence of David.
e.
Lessons: God is God of all the earth
– Let us again be reminded as we read these verses that God is in
complete control. He was not only God of Israel (and Judah), but of all
nations. That is why
numerous prophets were sent to other nations.
God held the whole world accountable back then (and still does).
Note: We sometimes describe our country as God’s special nation.
Are we? What makes us
better than the rest of the world?
My point is that we can only seek blessing as long as we respect
God’s will. But this is
equally true of ALL the world!
Psalm 2: 1-4.
a.
Vs.
9, “Who will bring me to the strong city?
Who will lead me to Edom?”
David continues on his geographical challenge and trust in God.
I am told that Petra is in the land that was Edom.
It was believed to be an impenetrable city.
Access was limited and fairly easily defended.
But in time, even it fell.
The Point: David knows that with God’s help, even such a stronghold
cannot stand. What
faith! David’s confidence is
in God.
b.
“Is
it not you O God, who cast us off?” (Vs. 10)
Interestingly, David notes that God is not only there for
deliverance, but he is again reminded of His wrath.
This verse seems to be referring back to the humiliation at the
beginning of this chapter.
David has to know of ALL God’s power, both for and against us!
Again be reminded of His chastening and how it is for our good!
c.
Vs.
11, “Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless.”
A great lesson for us to remember is the folly of trusting in man for
help.
Often in Israel’s history they turned to surrounding nations for help.
It almost always ended in disaster.
There are times we need to realize that ONLY God can help us!
There are times we need to put our trust in Him.
I am reminded of passages like
Romans 8:31 which says, “What
then shall we say to these thing? If God is for us, who can be against
us?” and Vs. 37, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors though Him who loved
us.”
Hebrews 13:6, “So
we may boldly say: ‘the Lord is my helper; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”
Where are we putting our trust?
d.
Vs.
12, “Through God we will do valiantly.”
David concludes knowing that with His help we CAN overcome.
In this verse, a word that comes to my mind is COURAGE!
We need to learn to lean on God, but that does not mean we do
nothing. Nor does it mean we
do not need to stand up for what is right, even in difficult challenges.
We need to pray for strength and courage -
We need to ACT courageously – Rev. 21:8 beings by speaking of the
cowardly. 1 Cor. 16:13,
“Watch, stand fast in the
faith, be brave, be strong.”
e.
Vs.
12, “It is He who shall tread down our enemies.” David concludes noting
ultimately it is God who overcomes the wicked.