Sermon Tone Analysis

Psalm 60 - The Banner of God

Message Introduction

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But if this is so, then Psalm 60 is an important historical document, for, as Derek Kidner says, “[Except] for this psalm and its title we should have no inkling of the resilience of David’s hostile neighbors at the peak of his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.

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)

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

Two powerful images

An earthquake (Psalm 60:2)

Damaging

Terrifying

Drunkenness (Psalm 60:3)

Staggering

Reeling from the attack

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

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)

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

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

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)

Fortified city (Petra) - impregnable - therefore,

Lesson # 1 Only God can give the victory

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

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!

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).

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?

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