Wednesday
Evening Bible Study
November 30, 2003
Psalm 56 Learning to Trust
We’ll look at this Psalm on Sunday.
Psalm 57 Mercy
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul
in the cave.
Al-taschith – ‘Al tashcheth
(Aramaic) – “do not destroy”; (Hiphil) a command to the chief musician, or
perhaps the title of a melody used for several Psalms
There are several times in David’s life when he was in a cave (1Sam. 22,
24), but the one where he seems to have spent the most time at happened after
having fled from hiding out with the Philistines …
(1 Sam 22:1-2 KJV) David therefore departed thence, and escaped
to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it,
they went down thither to him. {2} And every one that was in distress, and
every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered
themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him
about four hundred men.
:1-6 Cry for mercy
:1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in
thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these
calamities be overpast.
Be merciful – chanan –
(Qal) to show favour, be gracious
David started Psalm 56 with this phrase, and repeats it twice here.
Note how many times David
mentions “mercy” in this Psalm.
refuge – chacah – (Qal) to
seek refuge, flee for protection; to put trust in (God), confide or hope in
(God) (fig.)
calamities – havvah –
desire; desire (in bad sense); chasm (fig. of destruction); engulfing ruin,
destruction, calamity
in the shadow of thy wings –
In a spiritual sense, David was finding his help and refuge in God. In a physical sense, David was actually
hiding out in a cave.
:2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for
me.
(NLT) Ps 57:2 I cry out to
God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
:3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that
would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
send from heaven – David was praying and God was in heaven. God heard David’s prayers and God is
responding with help from heaven.
reproach – charaph – to
reproach, taunt, blaspheme, defy, jeopardize, rail, upbraid
Some of the reproach David was experiencing was coming from Saul.
When Jonathan tried to intervene for David with his father and failed …
(1 Sam 20:30-33 KJV) Then
Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of
the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of
Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?
{31} For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be
established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he
shall surely die. {32} And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto
him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? {33} And Saul cast a
javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of
his father to slay David.
Then David moved on to stay with the priests for a time at Nob. Then he went to live with the Philistines in Gath
for awhile, but found out that was a huge mistake and was almost killed by the
Philistines. That’s when he arrived at
the cave.
mercy – checed – goodness,
kindness, faithfulness
:4 My soul is among lions …
(Ps 57:4 NIV) {4} I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous
beasts— men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
:5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all
the earth.
This is the “refrain” of the song.
It is repeated again in verse 11.
:6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down
net – resheth – net; for
catching; of judgment (fig); of leaders leading people to sin; as a trap for
man
bowed down – kaphaph – to
bend, bend down, bow down, be bent, be bowed
:7-11 Praise for Mercy
:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
fixed – kuwn – (Niphal) to
be set up, be established, be fixed; to be firmly established; to be
established, be stable, be secure, be enduring; to be fixed, be securely
determined; to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast (moral sense);
to prepare, be ready; to be prepared, be arranged, be settled
(NLT) Ps 57:7 My heart is
confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises!
:8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
early – shachar – dawn
David is getting up early in the morning to praise the Lord. He’s making music at dawn.
:9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee
among the nations.
people – ‘am – nation,
people; persons, members of one’s people, compatriots, country-men; kinsman,
kindred
nations – l@om – a people,
nation
Yesterday I was reading in Ezekiel:
(Ezek 11:16 KJV)
Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far
off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries,
yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall
come.
Where ever we are, God wants to be our sanctuary, our place of refuge and
worship.
:10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
mercy – checed – goodness, kindness,
faithfulness
truth – ‘emeth – firmness, faithfulness, truth;
sureness, reliability; stability, continuance; faithfulness, reliableness
:11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all
the earth.
Lesson
What are you looking for?
We could look at this cynically and say that David just wanted to be
delivered from his enemies, which he did.
The idea would be as if David is saying, “God, you’ll be exalted if you get
me out of this mess”.
But if we take what David says seriously and take what he says at face
value, his main goal is that God would be exalted.
What if God doesn’t answer your prayers the way you want, could God still
be glorified? Would that be okay with
you?
Lesson
Living for His mercy
David isn’t praising the Lord because God has answered his prayer. David is
praising God simply because of what he knows of God’s mercy.
Mercy and grace are all about getting things we don’t deserve, kindness
that is unexpected.
(Luke 10:25-37 KJV) And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and
tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? {26} He
said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? {27} And he
answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy
neighbour as thyself. {28} And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this
do, and thou shalt live. {29} But he, willing to justify himself, said unto
Jesus, And who is my neighbour? {30} And Jesus answering said, A certain man
went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him
of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. {31} And
by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he
passed by on the other side. {32} And likewise a Levite, when he was at the
place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. {33} But a
certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, {34} And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his
own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. {35} And on the morrow when he departed, he took out
two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and
whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. {36} Which now of these three, thinkest thou,
was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? {37} And he said, He that
showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus
unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Jesus said we are to have mercy on others, but in reality we can only have
mercy on others because we, like David, have tasted of God’s mercy.
He sees us, has compassion on us, binds up our wounds, and
takes care of us.
(Lam 3:22 KJV)
It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his
compassions fail not.
Psalm 58 Cry for justice
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David.
Al-taschith – ‘Al tashcheth
(Aramaic) – “do not destroy”; (Hiphil) a command to the chief musician, or
perhaps the title of a melody used for several Psalms
:1-5 Man can’t judge right
:1 Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly,
O ye sons of men?
There is no hint as to the occasion of this psalm, but it does lie in the
middle of a whole bunch of psalms that cover the period of David’s life while
he was running from Saul.
Somehow, David is very aware of how unjust things can be in life. Sometimes life just isn’t very fair.
Illustration
A recently divorced woman is walking along the beach contemplating how
badly treated she got in the divorce settlement, when she spies a magic lamp
washing up onshore. She rubs the lamp, and out pops a magical genie. The genie
notices her anger and lets her vent her troubles to him. As a consolation, the
genie informs her that he will give her three wishes. But he cautions her that
because he does not believe in divorce, he will give her ex-husband ten times
the amount of whatever she wishes. The woman is steaming mad, thinking that
this is hardly fair, but she makes her first wish. The first wish was for a
billion dollars. The genie grants her wish and she finds herself sitting in
pile of one billion one-dollar bills. The genie then reminds her that her
husband is now the recipient of 10 billion dollars. The woman can barely
contain her anger when she makes her second wish. The second wish was for a
beautiful mansion on the shore of her own private beach. In an instant it was
granted, but the genie then reminds again that her ex-husband now owns ten of
what she wished for, and points out to a small development of ten such mansions
down the beach. Upon hearing this, the woman takes her time to contemplate her
last wish. Just as the genie was about to give up on her, the woman informs the
genie that she wants to make the last wish. But before she can do this, the
genie again warns her that her ex-husband will get ten times what she wishes
for. “No problem,” said the woman as she grinned in ecstasy. “For my last wish,
I’d like to give birth to twins.”
:5 Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so
wisely.
David is upset over those who are ruling the land and making judgments over
the people. They are wicked and they
don’t pay attention to what is right.
:6-11 God will judge wickedness
:11 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous:
verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
Even though people often struggle with the concept of God judging the world
someday, man still has built into him a need for justice.
When wickedness occurs in this world, we cry out for justice.
God will one day make everything right.
:6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of
the young lions, O LORD.
David is asking that God make their mouths harmless. He’s asking God to take these wicked rulers
and make them harmless.
(Prov 28:15 KJV) As a
roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
We joke about David’s prayers, asking God to break people’s teeth or break
their arms.
But in reality, David is leaving it in God’s hand.
Lesson
Taming the lion
Illustration
“Salesman At the Circus”
“Following the 1929 stock market crash, an out-of-work bond salesman
finally landed at the winter quarters of the circus in Peru Indiana, and asked
the manager if he had any jobs. The manager said, “We have only one job and I
don’t think you’d be interested in it.” The salesman said he’d take
anything...he was so hungry. “Well”, said the manager, “we’re looking for
someone to wear Nelly’s skin, and I don’t think that would interest you.” “What
are you talking about?”, asked the bond salesman. Nelly”, replied the manager,
“was our pet Gorilla and our most popular attraction. After Nelly died we tried
to buy another gorilla, but none are available - so we finally skinned Nelly
and want someone to put on her skin and take her place in the cage.” “How much
does that job pay?” asked the salesman. “$25 a week and board”, was the reply.
“Mister, we’re wasting a lot of time... Where’s the skin?” Well, it turns out
that the salesman made a better gorilla than even old Nelly. He hopped all
around the cage, rattled the bars, beat his chest...so that people who saw him
went away and said, “Have you seen Nelly?” More people came, and before long it
was the most popular concession in the Circus. At which point the manager came
along and said to the salesman, “Boy, you’re doing such a swell job that I’m
going to raise your salary to $35 a week and board”. Well, this really got the
salesman all excited and he hopped around the cage as he had never hopped
before, In fact, he hopped so much that he hit the trap door down at the end of
the cage, and fell through into the next cage. As the door clanged behind him
he looked over at the corner, and there lay a great big lion. As the lion
opened his eyes and blinked, the salesman scrambled up the side of the cage to
sit on that little trap seat up there, hanging on for dear life. The lion got
up slowly and took a couple of steps toward him, then crouched like he was
going to spring. The gorilla was shaking in fear so much the bars were
rattling, and he closed his eyes because he thought this was it. But then the
lion said, “What are you so scared about big boy? Do you think you’re the only
bond salesman in this Circus?”
We too have a lion we ought to be concerned about, but he’s much scarier
than a bond salesman.
(1 Pet 5:8-9 KJV) Be sober,
be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh
about, seeking whom he may devour: {9} Whom resist stedfast in the faith,
knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in
the world.
Though our lion is pretty scary, when Jesus is on our side, it’s a little
like kicking the teeth out of the lion.
We have special things that God has designed for our warfare:
(2 Cor 10:3-5 KJV) For
though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: {4} (For the
weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling
down of strong holds;) {5} Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every
thought to the obedience of Christ;
What are our weapons?
(Eph 6:10-18 KJV) Finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. {11} Put on
the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil. {12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. {13} Wherefore take unto
you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.
If we plan on fighting against Satan on our own, we’re
completely outmatched. We need God’s
help and God’s armor.
These are some of the things that God uses to help us in
our fight with this wicked enemy:
{14} Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,
God wants us to live in reality, to live in truth. He doesn’t want us to be living in a
make-believe pretend world.
and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
We need to have our hearts covered with the righteousness
that comes from trusting in Jesus. We
are made right only by what Jesus has done for us.
{15} And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of
peace;
We need to be ready to go when He says go and share when
He says share.
{16} Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be
able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
One of our chief weapons is our faith – trusting in God,
trusting that He knows what He’s doing.
Psalm 56 is all about learning to trust God in frightening times.
{17} And take the helmet of salvation,
We need to trust that He has saved us.
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Learning to let God’s Word get more and more into my life.
{18} Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
We need to stay in touch with our Commander-in-Chief. We need to tap into the power that is
released when we pray.
Psalm 59
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and
they watched the house to kill him.
Al-taschith – ‘Al tashcheth
(Aramaic) – “do not destroy”; (Hiphil) a command to the chief musician, or
perhaps the title of a melody used for several Psalms
The song comes from an incident that takes place after David has been
married to Saul’s daughter and he has continued to experience great victories
in battle:
(1 Sam 19:9-17 KJV) And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon
Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played
with his hand. {10} And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the
javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin
into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. {11} Saul also sent
messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning:
and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night,
to morrow thou shalt be slain. {12} So Michal let David down through a window:
and he went, and fled, and escaped. {13} And Michal took an image, and laid it
in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it
with a cloth. {14} And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is
sick. {15} And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him
up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. {16} And when the messengers were
come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair
for his bolster. {17} And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so,
and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said
unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
David’s wife, who was also Saul’s daughter, covered for David and he was
able to escape the assassination attempt on his life.
:1-7 Belching bad men
:3 the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression
David hadn’t done anything wrong.
:7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for
who, say they, doth hear?
belch out – naba‘–
(Hiphil) to pour out, emit, cause to bubble, belch forth; to cause to bubble,
ferment; to pour forth, emit, belch forth
(Ps 59:7 NLT) {7} Listen to the filth that comes from their mouths,
the piercing swords that fly from their lips. “Who can hurt us?” they sneer.
I think I like the King James here. J
:8-17 God will help me
:8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them
laugh – sachaq – to laugh,
play, mock
Things we might find scary, God finds humorous.
Illustration
In his column, Art Buchwald discussed the yiddish word chutzpa. He said that it has no English equivalent, but it refers
to one who has an attitude of incredible gall or presumption. “The classic example of a chutzpa,” says Buchwald, “is the young
man who murders his parents and then asks the court to show mercy because he is
an orphan.” Now, if we are inclined to smile
at that, is it because we think murder is funny? Of course not! We are amused, not out of an evil delight,
but at the ridiculousness of the situation.
And that, I believe, is what the Scripture means when it portrays God as
laughing at his enemies’ troubles. His
response doesn’t stem from anyone’s pain; it reflects the absurdity of thinking
that one can ultimately come out ahead if he tries to take advantage of either
God or His people.
:10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me
prevent – qadam – (Piel)
to meet, confront, come to meet, go in front; to lead
:11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and
bring them down, O Lord our shield.
David prays something interesting, not that God would just wipe them out,
but that He would do it slowly so people would pay attention to what God was
doing.
:17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the
God of my mercy.
Lesson
Confidence in God’s help
I am amazed that David doesn’t seem to express any fear during this
particular episode (though he will be afraid many other times).
God wants us to have confidence in His ability to deliver us.
(Isa 12:2 KJV) Behold, God
is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my
strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Illustration
Blondin the tightrope walker.
Jean Francois Gravelet was born February
28, 1824 in Hesdin, France. When he was five years old he was sent to the
École de Gymnase at Lyon, and after six months’ training
as an acrobat he made his first public appearance as “the Little Wonder.” He developed his skills under the guidance of
P.T. Barnum (of Barnum & Bailey Circus).
He became known as the Great Blondin.
In 1859 he announced that he would do the most amazing of all feats, he
would cross Niagara Falls on a
tightrope 1,100 feet (335 m) long, 160 feet above the water.
On June 30, 1859 the
rope was in position and at five o’clock
in the afternoon Blondin started the trip that was to make history. Incredulous
watchers saw him lower a rope to the Maid of the Mist, pull up a bottle and sit
down while he refreshed himself. He began his ascent toward the Canadian shore,
paused, steadied the balancing pole and suddenly executed a back somersault.
The crowd ‘screamed’, women ‘fainted’, those near the rope ‘cried’ and begged
him to come in. When he finally stepped off the rope, he was grabbed by a
delirious mob of well wishers who whisked him away to a champagne celebration.
He crossed the Falls several times, each time making it more
difficult. In all, he crossed the rope
on a bicycle, walking blindfolded, pushing a wheelbarrow, stopping to cook an
omelet in the center, and making the trip with his hands and feet manacled.
His most daring crossing came when he announced that he would carry a man
across on his back. It would be his
manager, Harry Colcord. According to Colcord, the trip was a nightmare. In the
un-guyed center section, the pair swayed violently. Blondin was fighting for his
life. He broke into a desperate run to reach the first guy rope. When he
reached it and steadied himself, the guy broke. Once more the pair swayed
alarmingly as Blondin again ran for the next guy. When they reached it Blondin
gasped for Colcord to get down. Six times in all Colcord had to dismount while
Blondin struggled to gather his strength. In the end Blondin had to charge the
crowd on the brink to prevent the press of people forcing them back in the
precipice.
He performed privately for both the Prince of Wales and King Edward VII, he
repeated the stunt of ‘carrying a man on his back’ and offered to carry the
prince, but he declined.
You don’t have to be a tightrope walker to get across the falls of
life. You just need to trust Jesus
enough to get on His shoulders.
Psalm 60 Victory over enemies
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.
Shushaneduth –Shuwshan ‘Eduwth
– “lilies”
Aramnaharaim – ‘Aram Naharayim – “Aram
of the two rivers”
Aramzobah – ‘Aram Tsobah – “exalted station: exalted
conflict”
We’d place this psalm during the time of the events mentioned in 1Chr.
18. David has been king for awhile, he’s
brought the Ark to Jerusalem,
and he begins to finish off the enemies that surround Israel:
(1 Ch 18:1-14 KJV) {1}
Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued
them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines. {2} And
he smote Moab;
and the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts. {3} And
David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his
dominion by the river Euphrates.
{4} And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and
twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but
reserved of them an hundred chariots. {5} And when the Syrians of Damascus came
to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty
thousand men. {6} Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus; and the
Syrians became David’s servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD
preserved David whithersoever he went. {7} And David took the shields of gold
that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. {8} Likewise
from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much
brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels
of brass. {9} Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the
host of Hadarezer king of Zobah; {10} He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to
enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against
Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him
all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass. {11} Them also king David
dedicated unto the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these
nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the
Philistines, and from Amalek. {12} Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of
the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.
The psalm says twelve thousand were slain, but it also says that Joab was
responsible. One suggestion is that
Abishai was in charge of the entire campaign and that Joab worked under Abishai
and was responsible for 2/3rds of the enemy deaths.
{13} And he put garrisons in Edom;
and all the Edomites became David’s servants. Thus the LORD preserved David
whithersoever he went. {14} So David reigned over all Israel,
and executed judgment and justice among all his people.
:1-5 We are abandoned
:4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be
displayed because of the truth. Selah.
(Ps 60:4 NIV) {4} But for those who fear you, you have raised a
banner to be unfurled against the bow. Selah
:5 That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear
me.
Israel is
God’s “beloved”.
Apparently these battles we’ve read about came out of a time of defeat.
David felt abandoned by God.
:6-12 God gives us victory
:6 God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem,
and mete out the valley of Succoth.
Apparently God had given a word to one of the prophets, and David now
quotes what God has promised. God’s
promise is in verses 6-8.
:7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim
also is the strength of mine head; Judah
is my lawgiver;
Gilead and Manasseh are areas on the eastern side of
the Jordan. God is saying that He isn’t going to abandon
those areas. Ephraim is central to Israel. David is from the tribe of Judah.
:8 Moab is
my washpot; over Edom
will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because
of me.
washpot – ciyr – pot; and rachats – washing – the idea is that Moab
is only good for washing feet, something lowly and humiliating.
cast out my shoe – this is a strange phrase and there are several
possibilities –
Some suggest it has to do with the sealing of a transaction, like Ruth 4,
and the idea is that God now owns Edom.
Some suggest it is a phrase of humiliation (Deut. 25), Edom
isn’t worthy of tying God’s shoe.
(NLT) Ps 60:8 Moab
will become my lowly servant, and Edom
will be my slave. I will shout in triumph over the Philistines."
:9 Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
From this point, David is speaking again.
He asks the question and answers it in verse 10.
:12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down
our enemies.
Lesson
He’s the real victor
Our victory comes straight from Jesus.
He’s the one who has won the real battles.
Illustration
At the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan,
Norwegian Bjorn Dahlie proved once again he was a champion. He won the
10,000-kilometer cross-country skiing event, giving him his sixth lifetime gold
medal. When he crossed the finish line, Dahlie didn't rush away to a victory
celebration. He waited there for another competitor, the man struggling last in
the 92-man field: Philip Boit of Kenya.
Philip had first laid his eyes on snow only two years before. Trained by a
Finnish coach, he had accumulated enough points in competition to be invited to
represent his country in the Winter Games--a first for this African nation.
Philip lagged behind the victor by nearly a half-hour. Bjorn waited
patiently at the finish line, and finally Philip struggled into view. The few
remaining spectators began to cheer him on. As Philip crossed the finish line,
Bjorn the champion took him by the shoulders. His tight squeeze conveyed his
respect and admiration for this one who was determined to finish.
Christ, the Victor, completed the course long ago, but he waits at the
finish line to welcome those who come after him.
Lesson
Counting on God’s Word
The marvelous thing here is that David went from a place of discouragement
and defeat and ended up with a great victory because he trusted in God’s Word.