FRIDAY, AUGUST 31
Psalm 60:1-12
1 Chronicles 18:1-17

“… one chase a thousand,
and two put ten thousand to flight …”

FROM DEFEAT TO VICTORY

Psalm 60 may be called a didactic Psalm. The battles fought in the various countries involving Joab, David’s commander-in-chief, are recorded in 1 Chronicles 18, 2 Samuel 8 and 10. Aram-naharaim is a loose geographical term referring to Syria up to the Euphrates River and beyond to the Tigris in the far north. Aramzobah is Syria which abuts the northern borders of Israel. Edom, the kingdom of Esau, is in the far south, below the Dead Sea.

Under David, Israel was God’s invincible army, when one would chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight (Deut 32:30). With every heathen nation in the north conquered under David’s leadership, to lose one battle to Edom in the far south was one devastating psychological blow. Fortunately the day was saved when Israel counter-attacked and “smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.”

Psalm 60 is David’s agonising prayer (Ps 60:9) to God to save him from a very embarrassing hour in the midst of victories. The defeat before Edom was like experiencing an earthquake! But since Israel was God’s banner-bearer on earth for the truth (Ps 60:4), he was confident of deliverance. So in World War II, the Allied Cause being righteous, those who trusted in God had no doubt that victory over the Axis powers would come in the very end.

The towns and tribes in the north to neighbouring countries in the south, viz., Moab and Edom, can be traced in a map of Kingdom Israel under David and Solomon. It is the line-up of the regions in the middle and south of the Empire involved with David’s armies, culminating with entrance into Edom. A prayer for God’s help for the final assault on Edom closes with confidence in God’s help rather than man’s. “Self-help with God’s help is the best help.” Life is a constant struggle on the earthly plane.

THOUGHT: A victorious Christian can have setbacks. What am I to do?
PRAYER: Let me learn to conquer through kneeling, O Lord!