Psalm 60

According to the description of this psalm, it was written later in David's life. It was during a time where much of the Bible describes a string of military victories for David and for Israel. However, the opening verses of Psalm 60 suggest a defeat that we have no record of in the history books. Boice suggests that even in the good times, we have the bad thrown in as well. That is certainly true.

The first three verses talk of a rejection of Israel by God, the military problems I alluded to earlier. The description speaks of Joab striking down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt, while 2 Samuel tells of David striking down 18,000 in the same place. It could be that the historian is crediting David for all military success, but it is also true that 30,000 could have been killed over two battles. Whatever the solution to this dilemma, God has brought some kind of defeat, yet it served as a "banner" to those who feared God. Somehow, even the bad gave the godly great confidence in their God.

The references in verses 6-8 are curious. Some have posed that it speaks of the places where the patriarchs walked, so the psalm traced the history of God giving the land to the Hebrews. Others believe it is simply a marking of territory, as it were, with Shechem and the Valley of Succoth being on opposite borders of the land. Either way, it is clear that God claims dominion for Israel over this territory. Moab, Edom and Philistia are beaten down by the strength of Israel's army and Israel's God.

Verses 9-12 again call on God to lead the armies with the promise of victory once again in the final verse.