This psalm laments an unexpected military reversal experienced by King David against three enemies: Aram-naharaim, Aram-zobah, and Edom. The psalm contains three sections: 1) a lament by the people who feel abandoned by God, 2) a statement by God affirming his control over the surrounding nations, and 3) an expression of confidence by the people in God despite feeling rejected by him previously in battle.

1. Dr. Pothana
Psalm 60

2. National Lament

3. Psalm 60: The superscription of this psalm is lengthy and contains a list of three of David’s
enemies: “Aram-naharaim”, or Mesopotamia, “Aram-zobah”, or central Syria, and “Edom”.
After piecing (2 Sam. 8:3-6), and other passages together with this superscription, we may
conclude that, while David was waging war against the Arameans in the north, the Edomites
(and Moabites), invaded from the south, forcing David to dispatch Joab to deal with the latter
force. This turn of events constituted an unexpected military reversal which the psalm
laments. It thus contains
the lament (verses 1-5),
an expression of the certainty of being heard (verses 6-8), and
a final petition (verses 9-12).

4. I. The People’s Contemplation of Abandonment (60:1-5)
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.
5 Save us and help us with your right hand,
that those you love may be delivered.

5. II. The Lord’s Control
over the Nations (60:6-8)
• 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.”

6. III. The People’s Confidence
in God (60:9-12)
• 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