Psalm 60 - The Banner of God

Message Introduction

Psalms, Volume 2: (Psalms 42–106): An Expositional Commentary Psalm 60: If God Does Not Go with Us

The only possible time for these battles is after David had become king and had reigned for a considerable number of years. But if this is so, then Psalm 60 is an important historical document, for, as Derek Kidner says, “[Except] for this psalm and its title we should have no inkling of the resilience of David’s hostile neighbors at the peak of his power.” The only other accounts we have of this period speak of it as a time of uninterrupted military victories.

Psalm 60:1–12 ESV

1 O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us. 2 You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. 3 You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. 4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah 5 That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us! 6 God has spoken in his holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth. 7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter. 8 Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.” 9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10 Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies. 11 Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! 12 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.

Message Outline

The psalmist laments (Psalm 60:1-4

The psalmist appeals to God (Psalm 60:5-8)

The psalmist has two lessons (Psalm 60:9-12)

Message Exposition

The Psalmist claims that God has rejected the nation (Psalm 60:1-3)

Psalm 60:1 ESV

1 O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us.

David says God is judging HIs people. As a result, He has

Rejected us

Broken our defenses

Angry with the people

David cries that God would restore them

Psalm 60:2 ESV

2 You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters.

Two powerful images

An earthquake (Psalm 60:2)

Damaging

Terrifying

Psalm 60:3 ESV

3 You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.

Drunkenness (Psalm 60:3)

Staggering

Reeling from the attack

The Psalmist voices his confidence of victory in God (Psalm 60:4)

Psalm 60:4 ESV

4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah

There were some that rallied around the banner

These were those that feared the Lord

This banner is where people fled to so that they can avoid the bow

What is the banner? The banner is the Gospel - the good news of what Jesus has done

Selah - pause, stop, consider

The Psalmist cries out in prayer (Psalm 60:5)

Psalm 60:5 ESV

5 That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us!

Psalm 60:5 NIV

5 Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.

David plead to God that God would deliver HIs people

Be delivered (give us salvation)

By Your right hand

Answer us!

The Psalmist receive God’s response (Psalm 60:6-8)

God answers David in verses 6-8 by giving him a history lesson

Psalm 60:6 ESV

6 God has spoken in his holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth.

God has spoken in His holiness

Some versions use the word “sanctuary” - perhaps describing the Tabernacle

If this is the case, this could refer to a special revelation of God to David or to Nathan

Psalm 60:7 ESV

7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter.

Psalm 60:8 ESV

8 Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

There is another way to consider this - to see these as Israel’s history and God’s promises

Psalms, Volume 2: (Psalms 42–106): An Expositional Commentary (An Appeal to God and God’s Answer)

Shechem was the place Jacob settled after his return to Canaan from Paddan Aram, where he had lived for twenty years with his uncle and later father-in-law, Laban (Gen. 33:18).

Succoth was the last place he had been prior to that (Gen. 33:17).

These two places represent the eastern and western sides of the Jordan River.

Gilead and Manasseh represent larger areas of the eastern side of the Jordan River occupied by Israel at the time of the conquest under Joshua.

Ephraim and Judah represent the most prominent tribes to the west.

If these names are meant to remind us of this early history and of the fact that God had given the land to the people from the time of the patriarchs, then verses 6–9 are not necessarily an oracle from David’s own time but rather a new phrasing of these older promises.

Boice, J. M. (2005). Psalms 42–106: An Expositional Commentary (pp. 498–499). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

The Psalmist learns two lessons about trusting in God(Psalm 60:9-12)

Psalm 60:9 ESV

9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

Fortified city (Petra) - impregnable - therefore,

Lesson # 1 Only God can give the victory

Psalm 60:10 ESV

10 Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.

Psalm 60:11 ESV

11 Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!

Lesson # 2 We must trust confidently in God and His help

Psalm 60:12 ESV

12 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.

Thus, as Leupold says, “The psalm closes on a strong note of confidence which was engendered by the promises of God, which were grasped in faith.”

Boice, J. M. (2005). Psalms 42–106: An Expositional Commentary (p. 500). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

The Gospel Proclaimed

Christ is our banner!

Gospel Transformation Bible: English Standard Version Study Notes for the Psalms

Psalm 60 Like a disillusioned child, David erupts with complaints against his Father, accusing him of rejection, defeat, anger, natural disaster, intoxication, and abandonment (vv. 1–3, 9, 10). Apparently this is the petition David taught his people to pray in a conflict (2 Sam. 8:1–14). The rush of rash and confused words demonstrates that a believer does not have to have his thoughts straight before he prays. When he turns to the Lord, the Lord will order his thoughts and comfort his heart.

As David’s spiritual eyes gain their focus, God’s attributes come more clearly into view and his accusations against God are substituted with words of trust (Ps. 60:11–12). Seeing God as a refuge, David understands that God protects his people because he loves them, not because they are worthy of his love (vv. 4, 5; Rom. 5:8; Rev. 1:5, 6).

Finally, David recalls that God is sovereign over the nations (Ps. 60:6–8). This absolute sovereignty oversees all of salvation history, finally culminating in Christ. God does not capriciously use natural forces to punish humans (Luke 21:25–28). Confessing God’s sovereign grace turns the believer away from the vain threats and toward a valiant courage that only our Lord, the ultimate conqueror, can give (Rom. 8:37; Phil. 4:13).

1 John 1:9 ESV

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We must repent

1. True repentance includes?

a. Confession

b. Change

Change

i. In your mind (intellectual)

ii. In your desires (emotional)

iii. In your will and actions (volitional)

2. What are the two strategies for dealing with sin?

Proverbs 28:13 ESV

13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

The Two Strategies

a. Conceal

b. Confess: To say the same thing as another or to agree with another

1. Why are we supposed to seek God’s forgiveness, if we have already been declared righteous? Are believers called to repent and ask for God’s forgiveness?

Because we sin daily…we should repent daily.

Repentance is an Attitude and Action that must be repeated throughout the Christian’s life on earth

2. What is the difference between false repentance (attrition) and true repentance (contrition)?[1]

a. Attrition – false repentance (remorse, self-reproach, and sorrow for sin) motivated by fear of punishment without any wish or resolve to forsake sinning

b. Contrition – true godly repentance motivated by godly remorse

3. Does true repentance nullify all of the consequences for our sin?

God promises to deal mercifully with those who confess and forsake their sins. However, there is no promise in Scripture that God’s forgiveness will eradicate all the consequences of our sin.

4. To whom do we confess?

a. All sin is confessed to God

b. Sin may be also confessed to others:

i. When we are seeking help from stronger, more mature Christians (Gal. 6:2)

ii. When we confess an offense to someone whom we have sinned against, in order to seek their forgiveness.

5. How do I repent?

a. To confess your sin, you must first seeyour sin

b. Your confession of sin must flow from Godly sorrow

c. When you confess your sin, stop passing blame and get specific[2]

When was the last time you truly repented of your sins?

[1] From R.C. Sproul [2] Mack, Wayne, Fear Factor, page 119f

Bringing It Home

Discussion Questions

What new thoughts have you had since reading and studying Psalm 60 or from Hearing James’ message on the passage?

What verse from this passage will you commit to meditating on and memorizing this week? Write it down. Share it with others.

Pondering the Passage:

What is the main point? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Learn

What did I learn?

Where has my thinking, beliefs, and values been challenged in this passage?

Do I find any of the characteristics ways of thinking or behaving of the ungodly in my life?

List and describe those areas in which I struggle.

Love

What does this passage teach me about God?

Has my thinking about God changed?

How have I learned to love God more and others selflessly as a result of this passage?

Have I learned ways that I have acted unlovingly towards others that I must change?

Live

What are the practical steps that I can take to apply to what I have learned in this passage?

Where must I change?

What do I need to repent and confess?

How will pondering and personalizing this passage change how I live my life today and moving forward?

Praying the Passage (ACTS)

What specific things can I pray adoring God because of what I learned in this passage?

What specific things do I need to confess based on what I learned from this passage?

What specific things do I need to thank God for based on what I learned from this passage?

What specific things do I need to request in prayer (supplication) based on what I learned from this passage?