David
Psalm 60
To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.
Scripture (KJV)
1O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.
2Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.
3Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.
4Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
5That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and hear me.
6God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
7Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
8Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.
9Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
10Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?
11Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
12Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Summary
Psalm 60 is a national lament and prayer for restoration after military setback, written when David strove with Aram and Edom. The psalm opens with a sense of God’s rejection: He has cast them off, scattered them, made the earth tremble, and made them drink the wine of astonishment. Yet God has also given a banner to those who fear Him, that His beloved may be delivered. The middle section is a prophetic oracle in which God speaks in His holiness: He will divide Shechem, mete out the valley of Succoth, claim Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Judah, and make Moab His washpot and Edom the place where He casts His shoe. The psalm closes with honest dependence: "Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man," and with confidence: "Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies."
The major themes are national lament, restoration, God’s sovereignty over the nations, divine help, and valiant action through God. Practically, the psalm teaches that human help is vain but that through God His people do valiantly. The great lesson is that victory comes not from human strength but from God who treads down our enemies.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 60
O God, when You seem to have cast us off and scattered us, turn Yourself to us again. Heal the breaches of our land, for it shakes. You have shown us hard things and made us drink the wine of astonishment, yet You have given a banner to those who fear You. Save with Your right hand and deliver Your beloved. You have spoken in Your holiness; You claim Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Judah. Give us help from trouble, for vain is the help of man. Through You we shall do valiantly, for it is You who tread down our enemies. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1How does this psalm balance honest lament with confident trust?
- 2What does it mean that "vain is the help of man"?
- 3How does God’s sovereignty over the nations comfort His people?
- 4Where do I need to say, "Through God we shall do valiantly"?
Related Psalms
Psalm 44
“We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.”
A national lament of defeat despite faithfulness, pleading for God to arise.
Read morePsalm 59
“Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.”
A prayer for protection from assailants, praising God as fortress.
Read morePsalm 61
“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.”
A prayer from the ends of the earth, longing to dwell in God’s tent.
Read morePsalm 108
“O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.”
Psalm 108 is a composite psalm, drawing its first five verses from Psalm 57:7-11 and its latter half from Psalm 60:5-12.
Read morePsalm 144
“Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:”
Psalm 144 is a royal psalm of David that blends military thanksgiving, cosmic theophany, and a vision of national flourishing.
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