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August 5, 2019
The word Sabbath means to cease. So as Dr. Brooks is away on sabbatical, we will be using his original devotionals from 2009 on the book of Psalms. He will resume The Bible Project devotionals upon his return. Thank you for reading with us and praying for him as he replenishes his soul for the next seven years of ministry.
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Psalm 60
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.
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.
New International Version (NIV)
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Do you ever wonder, "Why would somebody like me have to deal with something bad like this?" Perhaps in a doctor's office or in tough economic news, or a family crisis, we wonder. It is a natural thought. We hear echoes of that sentiment in David's words, "You have rejected us O God . . . you have been angry, now restore us . . . you have shown your people desperate times." David was not afraid to tell God what he thought. God was not afraid to hear. Thankfully, David does not stop there. Doubt is a station on the road to hope. "But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow." David calls for God's saving help and loving deliverance. God has spoken: Israel belongs to him in triumph, but Moab is his washbasin and he throws his sandal on Edom as he shouts in triumph over the Philistines.
Troubles stampede in great herds. When David wrote this psalm he had fought against two different groups of Arameans and his chief General Joab had fought twelve thousand Edomites. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, the other son of Isaac. Their capitol city Petra, rested in the lofty cliffs. Petra was built out of and upon rock. The narrow trails leading into Petra are featured in an Indiana Jones Movie where they filmed the remarkable buildings carved out of the sandstone. Some years ago I rode a horse into Petra. It is not as heroic as it sounds, though, because a Bedouin led my horse with a rope. At some point, David asked, "Who will bring us into the fortified city. Who will lead me to Edom?"
God is the answer to David's question, and to all of our questions as well. David declares dependence again. "Is it not you, O God?" He pleads for aid against the enemy. No other ally will do because the help of man is worthless, by comparison to God's help. "With God we will gain the victory and he will trample down our enemies." Though we are not exempt from facing difficult trials and battles, God still enables us to win. Declare your dependence on him today. Tell him of your trust. Watch and wonder. Help is on the way!
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| This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan. Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download
the app at readscripture.org. Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully,
Duane
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