Psalms In My Palms - Book 4 - Lament

You Asked For It, You Got It!

Psalms 60:1-12; 61:1-8

        In all the words spoken about David, or praise given concerning him, or books written by him, we are assured that David loved and trusted God. He called for God's assistance in military powers of strategy. He wrote personal and national Psalms of LAMENT, SOVEREIGNTY, WISDOM and more. But his major theme was always GOD! He was used by God, not because of all the above qualities but because His God led, listened, reigned, and advised. We also are nothing without God!

David laid out an urgent prayer to God for restored favor when he had fought against Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah. General Joab had returned with David where they had killed 18,000 Syrians in the Valley of Salt. (Read 2 Samuel 8:3-8,13-14. Note the place called Edom which became the possession of King David's victory because of God's help; Psalm 12:6-7; 75:7; remember Psalm 91:1-2). No doubt, David had passed on all these thoughts and statements to his military forces as part of their training. (Read Psalms 80:3; 144:1; 149:6)

But, We read in Psalm 60:1-3 for an intense study of David, (NKJV)-:

1. "Oh, God, You have cast us off;" (Psalm 44:9)

2. "You have broken us down;" (Psalm 11:3)

3. "You have been displeased; (HELP!). Oh, restore us again!" (2 Chronicles 7:14)

David did not begin with victory every time. Here he referred to a poetic disruption by his defeated armies against Aran of Zobah and Mesopotamia, who became Aran's allies. The whole of David's army in Israel felt the defeat! David continued in verse 2:

4. "You have made the earth tremble;" (Deuteronomy 2:25)

5. "You have broken it; (HELP!) Heal its breaches, for it is shaking." (Proverbs 25:28; Jeremiah 11:16; Psalm 106:23-Moses had a similar middle ground experience as David to intercede with God for the nation of Israel). Note David's LAMENT followed by a plea for mercy and help:

6. "You have shown Your people hard things; (Psalm 71:20. Is David's cry)

7. "You have made us drink the wine of confusion." (Jeremiah 25:15)

But...in spite of their defeat they still had a reason of hope in the final victory over their foes:

1. "You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it might be displayed." (Psalm 128:1 (TLB)-"But You have given us a banner to rally to; all who love truth will rally to it; YOU can deliver Your Beloved People." (Psalm 20:5 set up Our banners. "His banner over us is LOVE!").

2."Use Your strong Right Arm to rescue us. (Read Psalm 108:6). God always came forward to create Victory for David's LAMENTS!

David is quoting the Word of God in the next verses. Remember God is speaking here in answer to David's problem! Psalm 60:6-8-(TEV)-"In His sanctuary, God has said,":

1. "In triumph I will divide Shechem and distribute Succoth Valley to my people." (This is West and East of Jordan; Even back to Abraham God had promised this land; Psalm 89:35-37 David finds God doesn't lie. (Let us pause here and think on this. "GOD SAID," and He is the final authority. Read Psalm 75:2, 7-8, 10b-"When I choose the proper time, I will judge uprightly. I set up its pillars firmly...But God is the Judge: He puts down one and exalts another...But the horn of the righteous shall be exalted." VICTORY may seem slow but VICTORY WILL BE! Also Read the VICTORY reasoning of God-Psalm 91:14-16)

2. "Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh too;" (East and West of Jordan)

3. Ephraim is My helmet and Judah, My Royal Scepter. North and South. The Lord asserts His Sovereignty over the entire land of Israel; Read Genesis 49:8-10; Deuteronomy 32:8-9)