You Have Made Your People See Hard Things – Psalm 60

This psalm of David describes a situation the Scriptures do not otherwise give a full account of, referring, as it does, to David’s campaigns against the enemies of Israel after he first became king.  2 Samuel tells us of his victories and of the 18,000 men slain in the Valley of Salt (whereas the header of this psalm says it was 12,000, a discrepancy that could be merely a different way of numbering the casualties).  But in 2 Samuel it says David did this, whereas the header says Joab did.  To further complicate matters, the account in 1 Chronicles 18:12 says David’s general and Joab’s brother Abishai had the victory.  It is not uncommon, however, for a general’s victory to be attributed to the king, since he leads the whole army, and perhaps also for a subordinate general’s victory to be attributed to his immediate superior, in this case, Joab.

What is also not told us in the Scriptural account of this victory is that there was an initial failure or defeat that preceded it.  And that is what this psalm reveals and wrestles with.

To the choirmaster: according to Shushan Eduth. A Miktam of David; for instruction; 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.  You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters.  You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.

You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah   That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us!

God has spoken in his holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth.  Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter.  Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

Who will bring me to the fortified city?  Who will lead me to Edom?  Have you not rejected us, O God?  You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.  Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!  With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.  (Psalm 60 ESV)

David was facing many enemies as the new king of Israel and God had spoken, perhaps through a prophet, saying that these nations were His to be used for His purposes.  The Israelite tribes were to be his helmet in war and His ruler over the nations.  Moab, Edom and Philistia, Israel’s enemies, were to take subservient roles to Israel as part of God’s plan to bring blessing to all nations (Genesis 12).

But it seems God was not going out with Israel’s armies.  An initial defeat meant Israel was not in God’s favor and so David asks God to repair His people.  He knew that it was vain to go out in their own power, so he pleads with God to give help against the foe.  He then expects that with God the people will do valiantly and achieve victory.

Are there times when we expect victory and God gives us defeat?  We question God and His purposes, or whether we have in some way messed up with God and are in need of repair.  God makes us see hard things.  There is undoubtedly something God wants to teach us through such defeats.  He ultimately wants to teach us that He is the banner to which we may flee for salvation.