Psalm 60 Shaken or Stirred?

Before diving into Psalm 60, you might be interested to know that the last half of this Davidic psalm was appropriated and reused in a later post-exilic context in Psalm 108. If you want to, you can click the following link to see my post on Psalm 108: Back by Popular Demand.

My focus in this post today is Psalm 60:1-3 and then a few verses towards the end...

    O God,

you have rejected us, broken our defenses;

you have been angry; oh, restore us.

You have made the land to quake;

you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters.

You have made your people see hard things;

you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. (60:1-3)

This psalm contains a central victory shout of God (v.6-8) wrapped in a sandwich of national lament. The shout describes some of David’s victories, but they didn’t come without some difficult times, perhaps even times of doubting if God was present at all. Yet, during those times, when it was when God shook up the land the people’s hearts turned back to God…and saw his victory over their enemies. If God is shaking things around you, look up, flee to him, and the salvation he alone brings. 

Photo by Dave Goudreau on Unsplash

For someone like me who spent their early years in Southern California, and now lives in the PNW, the earth “quaking” is one thing, but it being torn open brings another whole level of concern! There is something deeply unsettling when the thing we consider most solid in our lives is shaken. The imagery in v.1-3 is especially appropriate for our current cultural context!

However, in putting myself into the shoes of the original singers of this psalm, I am reminded of something that happened in Numbers 16 when Korah and 250 elders rebelled against Moses and the Lord. In verses 29-33, Moses boldly declared what God was going to do and then faithfully recorded what God did that day!

If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the Lord.”

And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. (emphasis mine)

Photo by Shefali Lincoln on Unsplash

David’s use of such ground-tearing imagery possibly alluded to the price of rebellion before they had ever entered the Promised Land. Now, what their sin had resulted in was a more metaphorical “tearing” as tribes were fractured from each other and as enemy nations attacked while their attention was diverted.

Throughout the last several millennia both physical and metaphorical earthquakes have continued in the Middle East. But there remains another great quake to come.

The final book of the Bible speaks of a time when even the ground of Jerusalem would be torn.

And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. (Rev. 16:18-20)

And the quake to end all quakes is described in Hebrews 12 when the author speaks of our receiving a kingdom that cannot be “shaken”

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (Heb. 12:26-29)

Just two psalms later, in Psalm 62:2, 6 we are reminded that in shaky times it is the Lord himself who is our refuge and will enable us to stand.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken… 
He only   is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be             shaken.

So, as I ponder this passage today, I wonder if the circumstantial things we often interpret as God rejecting us are indicative of rejection or if are they related to discipline and his Spirit’s work to prepare us to repent and return to the God who loves us as his children? Psalm 60:10 asks the circumstantially rooted question,

"Have you not rejected us, O God?

          You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.” 

Photo by ahna-ziegler on unsplash

In times like this, will we be shaken and blame God while continuing to depend on our own strength and wisdom, or will we be stirred to confess, repent, and ask for God’s gracious help in our time of trouble?

How does this psalm end? The psalmist led the community of faith in the way of life!

Oh, grant us help against the foe,

     for vain is the salvation of man!

With God we shall do valiantly;

    it is he who will tread down our foes." (v. 11-12)

In review, the psalmist wrestled with having to fight against enemies (Aram & Edom in this case) which made him wonder if God was no longer with them. Yet he made a profound trust statement... that man could not save him/them, only God could!

I also love that confident line in v.12, "With God we shall do valiantly"...but it only works when we realize that the salvation that comes from our own efforts is worthless. Yet somehow the Lord still allows us to be a part of the awesome things he is doing! The trick is being with God rather than trying to get him to be with us. The heart question we must answer is whether are we committed to participating with him in what he does or are more concerned with his blessing of what it is that we do.

The best way to do something right is to take a moment to include God in the process. I knew someone many years ago who would ask, "Is this just my bright idea or God's right idea?"

I guess it just depends on what we want to see at the end of the day, the week, the life... I would prefer to be stirred up to trust in God and see some valiantly effective purposefulness! How about you?

Psalm 59 Howling Like Dogs or Sharing the Love?

Over the years, in devotionally commenting on this psalm, I have consistently landed on the final strophe (v.16-17) as my emphasis. I have posted these verses with my comments at least five times! So, in approaching this psalm today, I will intentionally discuss several other verses before hitting the well-trod landing zone in v. 17.

Who Let the Dogs Out?

By michael ely, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.
wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13897885

This psalm starts as an individual lament with a prayer request that pulls up short of being fully imprecatory (v. 1-5). David claims his innocence, and at this point in his life, he was innocent of any wrongdoing. He had served God, the king, and the people of Israel bravely and faithfully only to be cancelled and nearly killed by the king’s jealousy. These specific enemies were persistent in their howling, prowling, and growling when they “don’t eat their fill” (v.15). The answer to the question of who let these dogs out is Saul. Still, they were seeking their own profit through treachery which is never a good investment strategy. David asked the Lord to “punish all the nations” not in general but sparing “none of those who treacherously plot evil” (v. 5).

What is the chorus of this psalm? What is the repeated phrase that acts as a bridge between sections? “Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.” (v. 6, 14) The psalmist adds to the point by repeating that each evening “those who treacherously plot evil” (v.5) come back looking for trouble at his expense.

Sometimes our troubles...or those troubling people just do not ever seem to go away...coming back "each evening". Yet, like the psalmist we can choose to sing of God's strength even when we feel we do not have any; of his steadfast love amid our trial!

Don’t you just love how in the middle of being stalked by Saul's agents each night David could still sing of God's strength? He knew that God would preserve him until the morning! Such faith in a loving God makes for a good night's sleep no matter what is going on outside.

Photo by Gurth Bramall on Unsplash

I love dogs, but when the neighbors’ dogs' incessant barking wakes me from sleep in the
middle of the night or early in the morning, I find it highly irritating. Imagine that the metaphorical dogs are people saying bad things about you and trying to provoke you into an emotional response. Also, it helps us to understand the imagery used here when we realize that the dogs of ancient Israel were not house pets but dirty, skulking, sneaking, thieving creatures. In my mind, I compare them to pack hunters like hyenas and coyotes… loud at night and we should not underestimate the damage they can do.

Famous Last Words

These human “dogs” came howling and bellowing rumors, slander, and lies about David. Why didn’t they fear that they might be held accountable for their words? Because they were practical atheists and in the employ of the king so, they feared neither God nor man. As verse 7 describes.

There they are, bellowing with their mouths
    with swords in their lips—
    for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?” (v.7)

Such words and boasts do not discomfit God for indeed he laughs at the impotent self-deception. David set himself to watch for what the Lord would do negatively towards the bloodthirsty men and positively towards the faithful summed up in verse 10,

My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
    God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

David initially wanted them to be judged and brought down but not killed, lest his people forget (v.11) in a sense that may allude to Judges 2:21-23 where the other nations were not utterly destroyed but were used to discipline God’s people when they sinned. In this sense, David’s prayer extends beyond his immediate context to the plight of God’s people living in exile in a fallen world.

However, while David starts by not wishing for their death, the more he considers their lies and sinful words to more worked up he gets. Let's read this section together…

Kill them not, lest my people forget;
    make them totter by your power and bring them down,
    O Lord, our shield!
For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
    let them be trapped in their pride.
For the cursing and lies that they utter,
    consume them in wrath;
    consume them till they are no more,
that they may know that God rules over Jacob
    to the ends of the earth. Selah (v. 11-14)

Photo by Resume Genius on Unsplash

We are currently living in a time where conversations with those who disagree with us are difficult if not impossible. We have largely lost the ability to engage ideas, concepts, and policies reasonably and too often settle for railing against the character of the other. The ad hominem attack has always been a logical fallacy and though it has won some battles it usually ends up losing the war.

While the wicked focus on loudly expressing their displeasure when they don’t get what they want, David models a posture of faithful worship even during perilous times. Despite his frustration at the mercenaries that surrounded his house looking to capture him for King Saul, David ended his psalm with this praise for God's hesed love, and continues to place his trust in the Lord...always the best decision!

Photo by Cason Asher on Unsplash

So here is where I hit my customary landing zone in this psalm.

But I will sing of your strength;
    I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
    and a refuge in the day of my distress.
O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress,
    the God who shows me steadfast love. (v.16-17)

Singing out loud of YHWH’s steadfast love today! No matter what lurks at the door or prowls
around the walls of our life God's love is a fortress! Despite being falsely accused, persecuted, and even being hunted down, David chose to focus on God's strength and steadfast love. I wish I could do the same thing more consistently!

I pray that we will never be pride-trapped by our words to the point of denying the truth of our faith. May we be people who are honest to God, kind to others, and transformed by the steadfast love of God! 

Psalm 58 Ding-dong! The Witch is Dead!

Psalm 58 is a type of lament referred to as an imprecatory psalm. What is that? It is a psalm that calls for the just wrath of God upon the wicked. It captures the raw cry of the poor and powerless against unjust oppression.

The iconic image of the witch's feet
protruding from under the house.

Admittedly, there is something joyous about breaking the oppression of the wicked (v.10-11). One example is in the 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy’s house falls on and kills the wicked witch, the Munchkins sing, “Ding, dong, the Witch is dead…” since their fearful tormenter has been killed. A death that was very imprecatory-esque (to coin a phrase). Here are the lyrics they sang (in case you were wondering).

Ding-dong! The Witch is dead
Which old Witch? The Wicked Witch!
Ding-dong! The Wicked Witch is dead
Wake up, you sleepy head
Rub your eyes, get out of bed
Wake up, the Wicked Witch is dead
She's gone where the goblins go
Below, below, below
Yo-ho, let's open up and sing and ring the bells out
Ding-dong, the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low
Let them know the Wicked Witch is dead!

While this type of psalm (imprecatory lament) is often quite graphic in its creatively worded and often hyperbolic poetic descriptions, the focus is not so much a longing for bloodthirsty revenge as it is for removing the oppressor and their opportunity to continue hurting others.

Now, let’s look at the biblical text of this reflection from Psalm 58.

"Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?

 Do you             judge the children of man uprightly?

No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;

          your hands deal out violence on earth." (v.1-2)

While the author used a Hebrew term translated here as “gods” or “Mighty Ones” it is clear that he was making a sarcastic statement. Those who should have been responsible for weighing out justice to all had not done so. There may also be a bit of a peek behind the curtain to the spiritual “powers and principalities” that pull the strings of such unjust leaders. Of course, the false gods of the world never judge rightly...they are merely tools of selfishness (as are their followers). So much violence in the world comes from those ultimately seeking their own self-interests. Jesus made it clear that Christians are to be different. We are called to follow our Savior’s example by denying ourselves, taking up our crosses daily, laying down our lives, our rights, and our successes. He did not come to be served but to serve. Elsewhere he said that it was the meek who shall inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5). When we come to Christ with empty hands and an open heart He will bring his people peace, a peace that cannot be taken away by the world.

Photo by fikry anshor on Unsplash

Meanwhile, the wicked shuffle their cards, dealing out wickedness, and planting lies and injustice everywhere they go. Why do they do this? Why do their hearts devise wrongs? Because they have made an idol out of themselves. The Apostle Paul laid this out in his letter to Timothy in describing the coming days of difficulty, days that sound very much like our own.

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (2 Tim. 3:1-5)

When you are a lover of self and not a lover of the good, how can you live peacefully in a relationship with other people, much less God? You can’t. Thus,

The wicked are estranged from the womb;
    they go astray from birth, speaking lies. (v.3)

The irony of this imprecatory psalm is that it is set to a tune titled, "Do not Destroy"! The psalmist and the lamenting community do not take it upon themselves to destroy their oppressors. Rather, such a psalm is used to process the frustration of the author/reader with wicked rulers and faux judges who are like deadly snakes that will not be charmed (v.4-5) and it asks God to deal with them as only He can. In the end, the justice of God is revealed! Everything is not as it seems!

He began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. (Luke 12:1-3)

It is hard for many Americans to relate to such brutal leaders and persecution as the psalmist describes...but Christians from other places know exactly what the psalmist is talking about. However, even in the USA, we are coming to see hypocrisy on a massive level unveiled.

The imprecatory request of Psalm 58 begins to make more sense when we, or those we love, have been the recipients and victims of deadly lies and unprovoked attacks.

"O God, break the teeth in their mouths;

tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD!

Let them vanish like water that runs away;

when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted." (v.6-7)

If I were to paraphrase these verses, I might say, “Let the source of their deadly venom be broken and torn out. Let their efforts melt away to nothing, let their assassination attempts be ineffective.”

Ultimately, we are either children of the light, who want the truth to be revealed, the corruption exposed, and the unjust scales to be recalibrated. Yet, God’s people are not to take vengeance into their own hands… only God can make those judgments without error. And one day he will complete the work. On that day,

Mankind will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous;                                                       surely there is a God who judges on earth." (v.11)

As noted above, Psalm 58 is an imprecatory lament that expresses the psalmist's desire and request for justice to be done! He concludes with this verse that tells what the world's reaction will be after God’s delivering judgment of the wicked appears. His judgment does not tarry until that final day but is an ongoing work that occurs every day, in every season, and yet will suddenly come to an unmistakable and unchangeable conclusion. Even now, it is his kindness and mercy that allows us to confess and repent before we are caught and face the consequences of our sins (àRom. 2:4-5). We do well to heed the words of John to the dispersed church…

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But…

if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:6-9)

Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

An imprecatory lament should serve to remind us of our own shortcomings and utter dependence upon the grace of God in Christ Jesus! We all have trash that needs to be removed.

When we know how much we have been forgiven we will not quickly enter into judgment on others, but will fervently pray even for our enemies, patiently correcting with gentleness, that they might be set free for they are unwitting slaves (à 2 Tim. 2:23-26).

My prayer for us in these days is that we might have the courage to witness to the truth, the faith to see God’s powerful work on behalf of his children, the love to serve alongside him in his mission, and the hope to remain steadfast to the end.

Psalm 57 Awakening the Dawn

As I re-read this psalm this week, several thoughts, word pictures, and phrases intrigue me…

Photo By Greg K Dueker

In you my soul takes refuge (v.1) —David was in a cave hiding from Saul and those who pursued him. He expressed how his trust in God could picture the nature of God working on his behalf as a refuge. David also understood that refuge in the Lord’s presence is tied to “mercy” and not to merit. I think it is not hard for us to think of refuge in terms of shelters—in America, we think of storm shelters, evacuation shelters, domestic abuse shelters, tax shelters, and even animal shelters. Nations at war know about and often use bomb shelters. But what is taking shelter in this psalm? What is finding refuge in God? The soul of the psalmist. This turn of phrase causes me to wonder if I am as quick to ask God to shelter my soul as I am to take practical steps to shelter my body and other assets in times of danger.

Photo by Greg K Dueker

In the shadow of your wings (v.1) —The safety of the cave is likened to that of a chick beneath his mother’s wings which may not adequately translate into our culture where we don’t think highly of chickens as protectors. We can’t win and be on offense all the time. Sometimes we need to find shelter and ride the storm out and once it passes we can get back to the work God has for us. In the meantime, we get to simply be in the refuge of God’s love for us. This imagery may also allude to the Passover when the people of Israel were sheltered from the destroyer by the blood of the lamb (Ex. 12:22-24). What is the storm of destruction we are facing today? Whether we face natural disasters or the man-made kind we can rest in the fact that God will fulfill his purpose for us! What will we face this week? Where will we take refuge? 

Photo by Milada Vigerova 

on Unsplash 

God who fulfills his purpose for me (v.2) —Despite God having anointed David to replace Saul as king, David did not take matters into his own hands. He stubbornly refused to strike down the increasingly unbalanced King Saul despite being anointed as a replacement king. It was God’s plan and God would bring it to pass at the right time. David was content to trust that God would bring it to pass at just the right time.

It is so comforting to know that God is the one who" fulfills his purpose for me"! There are at least three things I can hold onto from this verse:

1. My life has purpose;
2. My life is part of his great plan; and
3. He will fulfill that purpose by saving me!

During hard times, we may not understand why, know how, or when, but we can be confident that God is with us in the midst and will be faithful to lead us home at the right time.

Though David had unjustly been driven from his home and family, he knew that he was part of something larger than himself. He was included in what God had purposed and would see it come to pass. For David, this included finally becoming the king of Israel for which God had anointed him by the hand of Samuel. We are not anointed to be kings and queens of Israel, yet in Christ, we are adopted as children of God () and are a royal priesthood and a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9). What the Lord has begun, he will bring to completion (Phil. 1:6).

Photo by Jeff Lemond on Unsplash 

In the midst of lions (v.4, 6)—Have you noticed how David’s metaphoric description of his circumstances is later literally lived out by Daniel in exile when he refused to stop praying to the Lord despite a law to the contrary (Dan. 6)? The Lord delivered Daniel that night. His accusers were then thrown into the lions’ pit and devoured the way they had desired that Daniel would perish. David’s accusers, pursuers, and oppressors would also suffer the death they sought to inflict upon David.

V.6 "They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah"

God has a wonderful way of working things out when we trust in him. Our soul may at times be bowed down, but it will not be destroyed!

St Anne's Church, Jerusalem
Photo by Greg K Dueker

Cave Refuge acoustics? Is it just me, or do you see (or hear) it too? For a guy hiding in a cave from his pursuers David is sure loud! I don’t have much experience with caves, but St. Anne’s Church in Jerusalem is known for nearly perfect acoustics, and having sung there when touring I can say it made us sound amazing! The outside looks plain but the richness of sound on the inside was remarkable! 

David writes in v.2 “I cry out to God Most High” as he makes his lament (request). In v.5 his praise is exuberant, “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!     Let your glory be over all the earth!” Then he does not let up but sings with a doubly steadfast heart in v.7-8,

“I will sing and make melody!
         Awake, my glory!
         Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awake the dawn!”

Bugling Merit Badge

David’s strong word picture of awakening the dawn with his song sounds quite loud to me. He would not have been good to have on a submarine trying to avoid detection! When I was a scout, I earned the bugling merit badge (much to my parent's chagrin) after repeatedly practicing the calls such as “Reveille” (the military wakeup call). David rehearsed his songs of praise without inhibition. 

Aside from the resounding cave acoustics, the point is well made, that when we have eyes to see God at work on our behalf we cannot help but show our gratitude with enthusiasm. I am reminded of when the Apostles were forbidden by the Sanhedrin from teaching and speaking to the people in the name of Jesus,

But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20)

I would suggest that our ability to see God at work in our lives begins much like David began this psalm: by asking for God’s mercy and trusting him to be our refuge. God's miracles flow from his requested mercy, for they are not given in fulfillment of our sense of entitlement.

David is quite confident that God will be merciful and the storms of destruction will pass by (v.1), that God would fulfill his divine purpose for David (v.2), and save him and shame his enemies (v.3), and that when all is over he will be thanking and singing praises to God “among the peoples…among the nations” (v. 9). Such a statement demonstrated great confidence and foresight. While David did live to do just what he said he would, by writing this psalm his words have continued to ring out in thanks and praise throughout the generations all around the world!