“A psalm of David useful for teaching” -- even before I explore the content of this Psalm I must stop and consider this “teaching” phrase. I have read the Psalm and copied the words and wonder, am I seeing this phrase for the first time? Once again I have compared several versions (translations) of the Bible. I’ve also read the various commentators looking for insights I missed.
I don’t feel that Calvin, Wesley, Henry, Barnes, Barnes, Kinder, Cambridge and others have added a tremendous amount to my search for understanding. Father God, please reveal to me what your word means here. Why is it particularly good for teaching? Father God, what do you want me to learn? Father, how are you revealing your King Jesus and what are you telling me about your character? I ask for wisdom and insight, in the name of Jesus, Amen.
I see a contrast in the Psalm from beginning to end.
David tells us God rejected His people, broke His people and was angry with His people. But David is pleading with God for restoration.
Even if you are suffering under the hand of God’s discipline or judgement, you can plead for restoration.
Isn’t this the pattern we see in the book of Judges: disobedience followed by judgement (discipline), followed by a cry for help, followed by a saviour (rescuer, judge of the enemy).
Heart, listen! When you are being disciplined, you should respond by asking God for restoration. Is this not the lesson?
MAIN POINT: We can only count (rely, depend) on God. No matter how bleak things may look to us, no matter what means God may use to wake us up or get our attention, we can cry out for restoration.
“now restore us to your favor” Psalm 60v.1
The goal of God’s discipline is not destruction but restoration.
God’s discipline is effective to get our attention.
“Shaken our land” v.2 I’m sure this is literal earthquakes but figuratively with war, aggression, defeat and shock.
Still the response to being shaken is to request repair. “Seal the cracks” v.2 I wonder if I blame Satan far too quickly and blame enemies, spiritual and human, when behind these things is the hand of God getting my attention. Maybe by blaming Satan for everything, I shift the responsibility and fail to be taught, fail to learn, fail to change as God wants me to change. Maybe I fail to rely and depend on God because I was too quick to dismiss the hand of God. May I say to you, my dear heart: Only God is the gatekeeper to all that comes my way. The enemy has no permission to touch me or anything around me without God’s hand. Think about Job. “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.” Luke 22:31
God is the conductor of my life's symphony, God is the composer of my life’s symphony. God is the instrumentalist in my life’s symphony. God is the audience of my life’s symphony.
“You (God) have been very hard on us, making us drink wine that sent us reeling. NLT
(YLT) Thou hast shewn Thy people a hard thing, Thou hast caused us to drink wine of trembling; (NET) You have made your people experience hard times; you have made us drink intoxicating wine; (HTB) O God, U hebt ons verstoten, uiteengescheurd, uw toorn over ons uitgestort: keer U weer naar ons toe!; (Segond 1910) O Dieu! tu nous as repoussés, dispersés, Tu t'es irrité: relève-nous!; (NIVUK) You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger. ;(MSG) 3 You made your people look doom in the face, then gave us cheap wine to drown our troubles.; (NBG51) O God, Gij hebt ons verstoten, Gij hebt ons verbroken, Gij zijt verbolgen geweest; herstel ons! ;(NASB1995) You have made Your people experience hardship; You have given us wine to drink that makes us stagger.
But you have raised a banner for those who fear you—a rallying point in the face of attack. Psalm 60v.4
There is confusion and discussion as to whether this is a retreat and regroup reference while in the heat of battle but losing, or if this is a triumphant moment where the tide turns and the victor has punched a hole through the enemy’s defences so that the army may now occupy new ground and be assured of a win, no more loss of life and a restoration of property. Either way, God is the focus. He does it. He raises the banner, He calls us to rally.
Not only does this speak of a focus on God, but also a corporate unified response to focus on God. We are to gather together around God. Are we learning yet? This was promised to be a Psalm useful to teach us.
Interlude Take a break, consider this before going on, meditate on this idea. Let the teaching sink in. Don’t shift away from this point too quickly. Review the lesson learned.
What have I learned? God is the one writing the script of my life; some very difficult things may come my way from God because I need to focus on Him, and in the face of hardship I need to learn that ONLY God can rescue me. Only God can build a house and establish a King and a kingdom and fulfil the promises.
God rescues, God listens, God saves, God has power. v.5 God keeps his promises which are rooted in His holiness. v.6
Heart, you had lots to learn and you are getting a full helping of theology (God knowledge revealed to me) on your plate today.
Do you see Jesus in these two verses? Interestingly I can’t get out of my head John 15:5, Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”
Apart from me you can do nothing.
Jesus says it. David essentially says it too in verse 11.
“all human help is useless.”
Things can change. Compare the thoughts and attitudes expressed in verses 1 and verse 10.
“You have rejected us, O God” v.1 “Have you rejected us, O God?” v.10
The answer is yes, you have, BUT not ultimately.
The pattern of nearly all prophecy in the Bible is correction, judgement, promise of restoration. The goal of God’s discipline, parenting, shepherding, care, relationship is to bring us under the second Adam. God is restoring humanity.
The Bible ends with restoration: “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away”. Revelation 21:1
And it is Jesus who is bringing all this about. The foes being trampled in Psalm 60 verse 12 become a whole host of evils that must be rid from among us.
Revelation 21
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
Conclusion: God wants us to depend on Him because He has great plans for our restoration.
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| Handwritten Psalm 60 |
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