Overview:
(EBC)There are sad moments in the history of the people of God. God has promised to be with his people; but in his own inscrutable wisdom, he seems to abandon them. This psalm raises the issue of divine abandonment and challenges the godly to abandon themselves to the love and compassion of a wise God. According to the superscription, this psalm alludes to David’s success in Aram Naharaim, Aram Zobah, and Edom (cf. 2 Sam 8:1–14; 10:16; 1 Chronicles 18:1–13). Apparently the successes were not always immediate, as this psalm is a community lament in which the people pray for God’s success after an apparent defeat.
Observations and reflections:
(1) v.1-3 The rejection from God
David felt the rejection and anger from God. God made the earth quake and the breaches of the earth is ready to fall. The people of God experienced the judgement of God.
Reflection:
David felt that the suffering in their nation was due to the rejection and anger from God. Do you feel the US was under the rejection and anger from God?
(2) v.4-5 The request of rescue
David prayed for delierance by God's power because they were God's loyal followers and the ones God loved.
v.6-8 The promises of God
David quoted the promises of God that He would lead them to triumph. In the past, God had given Israel the promise land. They belongs to God. Among them God has set up some people as the helmet and some as the scepter.
(NET) By comparing Ephraim to a helmet, the Lord suggests that the Ephraimites played a primary role in the defense of his land.
(NET) Judah, like Ephraim, was the other major tribe west of the Jordan. The Davidic king, symbolized here by the royal scepter, came from this tribe.
Regarding their surrounding enemies God has triumph over them:
60:8 Moab is my washbasin.
I will make Edom serve me.
I will shout in triumph over Philistia.”
(NET) The metaphor of the washbasin, used to rinse one’s hands and feet, suggests that Moab, in contrast to Israel’s elevated position (vv. 6–7), would be reduced to the status of a servant.
Reflection:
God treats his loyal followers or the ones He loves very differently than their enemies. From the history the psalmists recalled what happened to their nations. He realized how much priviledge God had given among them.
Has God given you so much that you feel undeserved? He loves you and cares about you. He gave you good education and good career opportunites in the past. Not everyone has those priviledges. From that we know that we can face whatever challenges lie in front of us. We can pray like David and ask for the recue from God.
v.9-11 Pleading for help
Since God had the authority over their enemies David pleaded for help from God.
60:9 Who will lead me into the fortified city?
Who will bring me to Edom?
(NET) In v. 9 the psalmist speaks again and acknowledges his need for help in battle. He hopes God will volunteer, based on the affirmation of sovereignty over Edom in v. 8, but he is also aware that God has seemingly rejected the nation (v. 10, see also v. 1).
v.12 In faith David knew God will help them to conquer.
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