Has God Abandoned Us?

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Psalm 60

Psalm 60 is the final Historical Psalm which is set during the lifetime of David.  The title is the longest introduction found in the all the Psalter.  It says:

“when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return struck down twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt. O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us.”

The background of Psalm 60 is recorded in II Samuel 8:1-14.  But, in the earlier portion of the book immediately before this, we have 5 important events which transpire:

1. David finally becomes king over Israel in II Samuel 5:1-5
2. He conquers Jerusalem and declares it to be his capital in II Samuel 5:6-16
3. David defeats the Philistines definitively in II Samuel 5:17-25
4. He brings the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem to focus the people’s worship in II Samuel Chapter 6.
5. The Lord sends Nathan the prophet with the most powerful message David would receive during his lifetime, that David would establish his throne forever.  This was a Messianic promise, which David immediately acknowledged in II Samuel 7.

1. Experiencing Defeat in the Midst of Victory in Verses 1-4 — While we do not know the particulars of the defeat the Israelites face at this time, we do know it was a great disaster.  David communicates this great disaster with 2 powerful images:
   1. An Earthquake of a Defeat in Verse 2 — Perhaps there is nothing more terrifying than an earthquake.
      1. Illustration — “The Haiti earthquake of 2010 devastated the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince and left an estimated 1.5 million survivors homeless. The earthquake hit at 4:53 pm on January 12 approximately 15 miles (25 km) southwest of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. The initial shock registered a magnitude of 7.0 and was soon followed by two aftershocks of magnitudes 5.9 and 5.5. More aftershocks occurred in the following days, including another one of magnitude 5.9 that struck on January 20…a town some 35 miles (55 km) west of Port-au-Prince. Haiti had not been hit by an earthquake of such enormity since the 18th century, the closest in force being a 1984 shock of magnitude 6.9. A magnitude-8.0 earthquake had struck the Dominican Republic in 1946.”
      2. Application — It is easy to understand why David uses the destructive power of an earthquake to illustrate the defeat they experienced.  There is a quote from Mr. Charles West which has been a blessing to many over the years — “We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, only to learn that it is God Who is shaking them”
      3. Often, God Himself allows the earthquake of defeats in the midst of great victories for the following reasons: 
         1. The earthquake reminds us we are living in a sinful world
         2. Because we live in a sinful world we need God to deliver us
         3. To cultivate hearts of humble faith in Him
         4. So we do not become self-sufficient
         5. So we worship He Who blesses and not the blessings  
   2. Drunken with Defeat in Verse 3 — This describes the impairing effects of defeat.  Sometimes when we experience defeat at the hand of our great enemies; the world, the flesh and the devil we can become inebriated with the thoughts and emotions associated with that defeat.
      1. When we experience defeat sometimes it impairs our ability to function properly in our jobs
      2. …in our marriages
      3. …in our spiritual lives
   3. The Cause of the Defeat…God is Angry with Someone in Verse 1 A. But God does not seem to be angry with everyone.  David NEVER says God is angry with him specifically.  Nor does it appear God is angry with all of Israel corporately.
      1. Notice the phrase in Verse 4 — “You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow.”
      2. God was not angry with those who “feared’ Him.  But, God was certainly angry with some.
      3. Joshua and the Children of Israel were defeated at the city of Ai because of the sin of one man named Achan in Jericho in Joshua 7.
      4. Application — Isn’t it true that the churches often fail to achieve great victories because of the sin of a few?  Churches are often destroyed because of the sins of a divisive minority. Denominations fail to achieve the highest potential because of the bad leadership of maybe just one. What can we do?  2 things:
         1. Make sure we are not the ones holding the church back.
         2. Rally ourselves around the banner of Christ and the Gospel. 
2. A Prayer and an Answer in Verses 5-8
   1. Verse 5 contains a prayer for God to help those who have been attacked by the Edomites.
   2. Verses 6-8 are an “Oracle” from God.  In other words, God answers the prayer of verse 5.
      1. Verses 6-8 mention the boundaries of the land which God promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
      2. When the people feel as if their enemies will defeat them, God reminds them of the promises He has made.
      3. This is an encouragement to Biblical Faith.  Biblical faith is not merely optimism, rather faith is believing the Word of God and acting upon it.
3. Two Life Lessons in Verses 9-12 — Psalm 60 must have been written while David was on his military campaign along the Euphrates River, after Joab was dispatched but before the victory was fully secured.  It seems David has 2 things on his mind he learned as he reflects upon the defeat the people experienced at Edom and also the final victory God promised to him:
   1. True Victory Comes From God Alone.  Edom was known for its well-fortified cities.  The mountain stronghold of Petra was probably the most famous.  David’s words “who will bring me to the fortified city?” Petra was a city deep within the mountains and was generally impregnable.  The limestone cliffs rise thousands of feet on both sides.  There are places so narrow that only 2 horses can get through the crevices at a time.  Defenders could retreat deep into the caves and the hidden inner valley and defend themselves from there.  Only God Himself could give David the ability to capture a fortress like that and David knew it.  That why he says “the help of man is worthless” in verse 11.
   2. We must ask God to give us that victory.  While only God can grant us the victory, we must also ask God for it.  David indeed asks God and then he anticipates God’s answer in Verse 12: “With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.”
   3. 2 Applications:
      1. The Victory Comes from God Alone regarding our conflict with evil cosmic forces
      2. We must ask God to give us the victory — “You do not have, because you do not ask God” — James 4:2