Look On The Bright Side
1 (To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.) O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.
2 Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.
3 Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.
4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
5 That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.
6 God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
8 Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.
9 Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
10 Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?
11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Look On The Bright Side
The introduction of Psalm 60 indicates that within the verses of this brief passage, David intends to teach a lesson. Like an instructor before a classroom, David begins with a problematic situation, then goes on to reveal how this can be resolved.
“O God thou hast cast us off, thou has scattered us”(60:1). These are the shocking first words of David. In so many of his other Psalms, David leads with a voice of high praise, declaring the victorious works of the Lord. But here, surprisingly, David sounds forlorn and abandoned. What could have led him to feel this way? David says God is displeased. He prays “O turn thyself to us again” (60:1). David is pleading not only for himself, but for God’s people. David describes the disruptive acts that he attributes to God. “Thou hast made the earth to tremble” (60:2). One can assume they may have been experiencing earthquakes or tumultuous storms. Even the strong movements of mighty armies rising up against them could cause the earth to shake.
“Thou hast shewed thy people hard things” (60:3), he says. Again, this is truly an unexpected observation from David who customarily speaks of God’s goodness, mercy and grace towards His people. Obviously, this is an unusual time of loss and defeat. Indeed, David is drinking the wine of astonishment. He can hardly believe what is happening. Yet he knows that God has given them His banner of truth. He knows this banner is still waving bravely on their side and shows they are the true victors of the battle.
Now David teaches the listener to remember that he is beloved and God will deliver and save him. “God hath spoken in his holiness” (60:6). David remembers the promises of God and His righteous nature. David goes on to speak as if he is hearing what God is saying he will do to all of his enemies. One by one, he names them and we see a God who has all power to rule over, control and defeat each nation against His people. “They are all mine”. They belong to God.
David asks rhetorically, who will bring me into the strong city? It is as if he, the teacher, is waiting to hear his students all shout together the name of the Lord. If these students don’t understand the lesson yet, he goes on to provide the answer. “Wilt not thou, O God?” (60:10). Yes, this is the same God who at first he stated cast them off and did not go out with His armies. He prays that He will yet give us help from trouble. He does not rely on the help of man.
David teaches that the victory comes only through God. “For He it is that shall tread down our enemies” (60:12). Thus the lesson ends declaring praise and victory to come.
How do you teach someone how to trust in God and keep the faith when facing troubled times? When it seems all hope is lost, how can one find the courage to endure and persevere? In Psalm 60, David shares a valuable lesson to follow during those challenging times. First, admit that you are struggling and wondering why God is allowing you to experience these struggles. I recall that Jesus did not promise us a life of ease. He said, “in this life you will have trouble”. But David also reminds us that we are beloved. God has not abandoned me. He will never leave me or forsake me. No matter what things appear to be. I will remember God’s promises and hold fast to my faith. I will ask the Lord to help me to walk by faith and not by sight.
Debra Hill
Debra Hill is an independent inspirational singer, author, songwriter, and writer. As a blind performer, she adds a personal story of God’s faithfulness. Her life exemplifies that Christ’s power will work to lift all regardless of circumstances.
Elizabeth Expands:
In verses 6-9, David lists several locations. Verse 6 are two important references to the Promised Land, with the city of Shechem being where Jacob built his home, and the valley of Succoth which was also used to indicate the more distant parts of the nation. Verse 7 contains locations within the nation of Israel; Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Judah. In verses 8 and 9, we reference Moab, Edom, and Philistia, the enemy nations that God’s people warred with.
Meet Elizabeth Baber
Elizabeth Baber is the latest addition to the Debra Hill Sings team, working as the head Virtual Assistant for the wonderful woman herself. Elizabeth would identify as an author(ess), spreadsheet fanatic, and all-around geek. The majority of her time is spent serving Central Virginia’s low-vision patients as a technician with the MedRVA Foundation.
When not at work, she can be found cooking with her fiancé, coaching Teen Bible Quizzing, wrestling novel ideas, running an online Dungeons and Dragons server, or trying her hand at one of a hundred rotating crafting hobbies.
Some of her work can be found on her website: www.writingonwords.com and you can contact her at elizabeth@writingonwords.com.
I would love to hear what this Psalm brings to mind for you! Write back to me in Facebook comment or blog reply.
Disclaimer: The intention of this project is not to teach, but rather to share. Please use due diligence in studying the word of God, and seek guidance from your local religious leaders for any questions or concerns.
Special Thanks to Elizabeth Baber and Dr. Shakira for all that you do to make it happen.
The Psalms In Your Palm Weekly Series
Tune in every Sunday to read a passage of scripture, hear Debra’s personal thoughts on the reading, and then relate and reflect on the words as you write them into your palm and into your heart.
The Psalms In Your Palm Playlist
Each song is paired with a Sunday Psalm and reflection, blending scripture and sound to inspire peace, understanding and connection.
Join the American Council of the Blind of Virginia’s Email List
As a member of ACBVA, I encourage you to join our email list to be a part of a vibrant community of visually impaired persons, attend informative monthly online meetings, and learn more about important accessible resources.
For those interested in the benefits of the American Council of the Blind of Virginia (ACBVA) organization, you can also become a member, click the link below!
