THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

LX: Relying On Scripture Over Potentially Misleading Circumstances

(Psalm 60:1-12)

I. Introduction

A. Though God can use circumstantial evidences to guide His people (cf. Acts 16:6-10), written Scripture should be our ultimate source of divine authority for the truth, cf. Deuteronomy 13:1-4; 2 Timothy 3:13-17.

B. Psalm 60:1-12 presents this truth by way of an actual experience in David's life, and we view it for our insight:

II. Relying On Scripture Over Potentially Misleading Circumstances, Psalm 60:1-12.

A. The introductory remarks in the English Bible comprise the first two verses in the Hebrew text (Kittel, Bib. Heb., p. 1026), so we stay with the verse numbering system of the English Bible for clarity with this lesson.

B. We thus translate Psalm 60:1-12 as follows:

1. "O Elohim, You have spurned us and broken out upon us; You have been angry -- now aim to take us back to power!" (Psalm 60:1)

2. "You have caused the earth to quake and split it open; mend its fractures, for it is feebly shaking," v. 2.

3. "You have shown Your people severe times; You have given us wine that makes us stagger," Psalm 60:3.

4. "You have given to those who fear You a raised banner; to be unfurled against the bow. Selah," Psa. 60:4.

5. "(I have expressed all this) in order that [lema'an, "in order that," Ibid.; B. D. B., A Heb.-Eng. Lex. of the O. T., p. 775] You might) deliver us out (of the crisis) and save us with Your right hand that those You love may be delivered -- answer us!" (Psalm 60:5)

6. "Elohim has spoken from His sanctuary: 'In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Succoth . . . '" (Psalm 60:6)

7. "' . . . Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is My helmet, Judah my scepter . . . '" (Psalm 60:7)

8. " . . . Moab is My washbasin; upon Edom I toss My sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph,'" Psalm 60:8.

9. "Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?" (Psalm 60:9)

10. "Is it not You, O Elohim, You Who have spurned us and no longer goes out with our armies?" (Psa. 60:10)

11. "Give us aid against the enemy, for vain is the help of man;" (Psalm 60:11)

12. "With Elohim we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies," Psalm 60:12.

C. We note significant observations and applications of this psalm (as follows):

1. This psalm was authored when David sent Joab to defeat the Edomites in 2 Samuel 8 and 1 Chronicles 18: David had successfully fought Israel's enemies to the far north, but the Edomites had invaded Israel from the south. David thus sent Joab back to fight Edom, and Joab struck down 12,000 Edomites in the "Valley of Salt," likely the valley of the Dead Sea area; Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Psalm 60.

2. Thus, David expressed confused dismay at God's letting the Edomites invade Israel when he was being so helped of God in the north, seen in the remarks in verse 4 that "God had given a banner to summon them to fight victoriously," making "their defeat" by the Edomites seem "inexplicable," Ibid., ftn. to Psa. 60:4.

3. David expressed to God his concerns regarding this matter (v. 5), and then relied on the Word of God over his inexplicable circumstances to the contrary, with that Word promising Israel and him victory over Edom since God Who had apportioned the Promised Land out to Israel still controlled it, and was still sovereign over Moab, Edom and Philistia, Israel's foes, Psalm 60:6-8; Ibid., Ryrie, ftn. to v. 6-7; Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 838. Thus, David relied on God's Word over experience as his ultimate basis for truth!

4. This psalm also teaches us to keep living by faith even if God initially starts to bless us (as He did David in giving him victory to the far north), for at any instant, we are vulnerable to defeat without the Lord's help.

Lesson: David handled the circumstantially inexplicable defeat Israel faced before Edom who invaded her from the south when God was giving him great victory in the far north, and that by relying on God's Word for assurance of God's help in regaining control of Israel's Promised Land from Edom versus relying on the inexplicable circumstances. David thus also learned to keep relying on God even when his efforts initially seem successful!

Application: (1) In the life of faith, though God at times may lead us via circumstantial evidences (as in Acts 16:6-10), our ULTIMATE guide for truth is written Scripture OVER experience, Deuteronomy 13:1-4; 2 Timothy 3:13-17. (2) If circumstances seem confusing as to God's will, instead of becoming dismayed, the Lord wants us to rely on His sure, written Word above circumstances for His actual, true guidance, cf. Psalm 119:105; Isaiah 8:20.