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Psalms 60

12 verses

TL;DR

A lamenting psalm in which Israel cries for divine deliverance, recounts God’s sovereignty over tribes and enemies, and pledges confidence in divine victory.

Summary

Psalm 60 opens with a plea to God, lamenting that He has cast Israel aside and caused the earth to quake. The psalmist cries for healing of the nation's brokenness and asks for the banner of the faithful to be displayed. He calls on God to rescue the beloved and to hear his voice. The psalm then shifts to a prophetic claim of divine ownership over the regions of Gilead, Manasseh, and others, asserting that God will triumph over foes such as Moab, Edom, and Philistia. The psalmist asks who can lead Israel into the strong city and into Edom, lamenting that God has not answered with force. It concludes by affirming that only through God can Israel do valiantly and that He will trample the enemies.

Outline
  1. 1. Cry of distress and plea for restoration
  2. 2. Assertion of divine sovereignty over tribes and enemies
  3. 3. Declaration of faith that God will lead Israel to victory
Themes
Lament and supplicationDivine sovereignty and territorial claimsFaithful hope in divine intervention
Keywords
lamentdeliverancebannerright handholinessvictorytribesenemies
People
GodManassehEphraimJudah
Places
ShechemSuccothGileadMoabEdomPhilistia
Things
bannerwine of astonishmentright handholinesswashpotshoe
Key Verses
  • Psalms 60:1: Opening lament and plea for God’s attention
  • Psalms 60:7: Affirmation of divine ownership over key tribes and regions
  • Psalms 60:12: Concluding assurance of victory through God
Questions
  • Why does the psalmist use war imagery to describe God’s power?
  • What does the repeated mention of 'right hand' signify in the context of divine help?
  • How does the psalm balance lament with confidence in divine sovereignty?
  • In what ways does the psalm reflect the historical context of Israel’s conflicts with neighboring peoples?
  • What is the significance of the phrase 'wine of astonishment' in the lament?
  • How does this psalm relate to other Psalms that declare God's dominion over nations?
Sentiment

negative
The psalm expresses distress and a plea for help, though it ends on a note of faith in God’s power.