TO WHOM ELSE CAN WE GO?
Opening Prayer
You are always with me, Father, no matter what my circumstance, even when I don’t sense your presence. Help me to trust in your faithfulness, to stand on your promises, and testify to your goodness.
Read PSALM 60
Psalm 60[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam[b] of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim[c] and Aram Zobah,[d] and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
1 You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us;
you have been angry—now restore us!
2 You have shaken the land and torn it open;
mend its fractures, for it is quaking.
3 You have shown your people desperate times;
you have given us wine that makes us stagger.
4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner
to be unfurled against the bow.[e]
5 Save us and help us with your right hand,
that those you love may be delivered.
6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:
“In triumph I will parcel out Shechem
and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet,
Judah is my scepter.
8 Moab is my washbasin,
on Edom I toss my sandal;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us
and no longer go out with our armies?
11 Give us aid against the enemy,
for human help is worthless.
12 With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies.
Footnotes
- Psalm 60:1 In Hebrew texts 60:1-12 is numbered 60:3-14.
- Psalm 60:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of Northwest Mesopotamia
- Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of central Syria
- Psalm 60:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How honest are your prayers? Are there things you hold back from saying?Here’s a paradox. On the one hand, being the people of God can bring desperate hardship; on the other hand, God is our only hope. When Jesus offered his disciples an opportunity to opt out, avoiding the challenges of discipleship, Peter replied, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’ (John 6:68).
The situation in this psalm appears even more difficult: God has rejected his people (vs 1,10). And yet, God is sovereign (vs 6-8); their only hope lies in him (vs 9-12). This honest psalm helps the faith community to cling to the God who seems to reject them, confident of final victory (v 12).
We all face seasons in our lives where we struggle to see God working for our good. At times, as in this psalm, this is the aftermath of our sinfulness or rebellion. We are under God’s judgment. The temptation may be to withdraw and hope the storm will blow over. But in the meantime, how can you live? As the ‘prodigal son’ found (Luke 15), the only sensible thing we can do is to set out in the direction of the one whose judgment we dread. Hosea expresses something similar: ‘Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds’ (Hosea 6:1).
Apply
This psalm was used ‘for teaching’ (see the introduction to the psalm). What is its lesson for you?
Closing prayer
Lord God, you are my only hope when life is hard. Help me to trust you, be faithful, and to praise your name.
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