PSALM 60
This psalm was meant to be sung by the congregation or nation. We see this from the instruction to the choirmaster. The purpose of the psalm is instruction. The occasion of its writing is a war between Israel, led by King David, and two regions of Syria, Aram-Naharayim and Aram-Zobah. Aram is a name for Syria.
These battles are mentioned in 2 Samuel 8 and 1 Chronicles 18. David is now the king. He has re-captured the ark of the covenant and returned it to Israel. (2 Samuel 6) God has made covenant with David. (2 Samuel 7) Part of that covenant was God’s promise that David would conquer the enemies of Israel and bring peace.
David conquered the Philistines and Moab. Philistia was on the coast. Moab was east of the Jordan and south of the land Moses slotted to the tribes of Israel on that side of the river. The Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew.
Then he turned his attention to Zobah and defeated it while Zobah was trying to extend its kingdom. The Syrian alliance brought a large army with chariots to help Zobah, but David defeated them also. That group would have been the “Aram-Naharaim” mention in the instructions to the psalm.
The reference to Joab and the Valley of Salt is David’s defeat of Edom in that valley, with Joab as the leader of the military.
The Lament
60:1-3
The psalmist lamented the fact that God had rejected them in his anger. He had made the land itself hostile, having earthquakes that made the people stagger and fear.
This may refer to the end of Saul’s reign, after God rejected Saul. Since God rejected Saul, he would not bless him with military victories. The Philistines often raided Israel. Eventually, the Philistines defeated the army of Israel and killed all of Saul’s sons, causing Saul to commit suicide rather than fall into their hands.The Amalekites also raided parts of Israel, burning towns and taking captives.
Since the Israelites were God’s people and they were being defeated by Gentiles, they saw themselves as rejected by God, treated as if they were not his people. He had wine that made them stagger, which is a metaphor for God’s wrath. You can see this in Jeremiah 25:15, where the Lord tells Jeremiah to take from God’s hand the cup of the wine of wrath which will the nations will drink and be caused to stagger because of God’s judgment on them.
Rally To The Lord
60:4-5
The psalmist said the Lord set up a banner for those who fear him. This is the image of a flag raised in battle and the soldiers rally to the flag to renew the fight.
In the movie “The Patriot”, the Americans rally to the flag carried by Mel Gibson’s character and win the final battle with the British. That is an example of the banner raised in battle.
Here the psalmist says it will provide protection from the bow, meaning the enemy, and bring deliverance and salvation. In this context, salvation means success in military battles.
Saul, without the power of God behind him, led the nation to defeat. But David, anointed by God, and empowered by him, defeated Israel’s enemies. The Psalmist here asked for God’s divine intervention to save Israel. He asked in terms of the covenant, referring to Israel as God’s beloved ones.
God Declared Victory
60:6-8
These verses recite a declaration of God to claim the land of Canaan for himself and his people. He mentions Shechem, Succoth, Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Judah. These are all places in the land God promised to Israel. Shechem was the place where Abraham built an altar after God promised him the land. Jacob later bought a field there after returning from working for Laban. Succoth was one of the places Jacob stayed on his return to Canaan with his wives and flocks. Gilead was east of the Jordan and awarded to the tribes that settled there instead of on the other side of the river. Manasseh, Ephraim, and Judah refer to the parts of the land allotted to those tribes. All of that land was claimed by God for his people.
Moab was a country east of the Jordan that was often an enemy of Israel. Edom and Philistia were also enemies. God said he would triumph over them all. He declared victory over them.
When God said Moab was his wash basin, he referred to a lowly servant coming to wash the feet of the warrior. Similarly, the Lord would cast his shoe on Edom, a sign of contempt and degradation. All of these nations would be required to submit to the authority of the Lord’s rule. Judah, as the scepter, is emblematic of the king’s rule.
A Cry to God for Help
60:9-12
The psalmist recognized that no man, without God’s help, could lead them to defeat Edom, a powerful enemy. So, the psalmist asked God to help, saying that, with God, they would fight valiantly and win, because God actually won the battles for them.
Israel’s mission was to spread the knowledge and glory of God over the earth. In the Old Testament, that was done primarily by military conquest. The king was a type of Christ, who will one day rule the nations.
This is the picture of Palm 2:7-9. The Son will have the nations as a heritage and possession. He will break the nations with a rod of Iron.
So, the mission for us has not changed. The goal is still to spread the knowledge and glory of the Lord over all the earth. That is why Jesus have us the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
It is why Jesus answered the question of the disciples “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel” with “…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth”. (Acts 1:8)
Jesus will eventually reign over all. Philippians 2:10 tells us every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is lord, to the glory of the father.
No comments:
Post a Comment