#740 His Banner Over Me

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. Psalm 60 NIV

A psalm of David set to "Lily of the Testimony", and referencing the times when he fought against Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah. It also looks back on the Valley of Salt when Joab killed 12000.

2 Samuel 8 context

2 Samuel 10 context

1 Chronicles 18 context

You have cut us off - Israel enjoyed great success in battle when they could hear the rustling in the branches, when God went before them and with them. Even when we just feel defeated there is no better place to turn, no one that knows more than God, that is greater than Him. It is this way in the Christian walk, If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

“To be cast off by God is the worst calamity that can befall a man or a people; but the worst form of it is when the person is not aware of it and is indifferent to it. When the divine desertion causes mourning and repentance, it will be but partial and temporary.” (Spurgeon)

Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. 

The wine of confusion - God's ways are not always clear to us, but David misses Him in what feels like His absence, yet is uncertain to the cause. Sometimes all seems well, that we are riding along fine, that we have the reigns and are grown enough, celebrating victory, drunk on our success, but calamity is just a side glance away. 

So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.”9 For he and his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,… Luke 5: 7-9

You have raised a banner - Those that fear God still follow, even when the whole world is against them, even if they feel God's blessing has left them. Where else can we go, He holds the words of life. Whatever He called you to, He will prepare you for and see you through. Though You slay me, yet will I praise You.

7 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” John 21: 7-23

The concept of the banner was connected to Israel’s reliance upon God and His victory for them. “When Amalek fought against Israel in Rephidim, victory came to the people of God as Moses, supported by Aaron and Hur, prayed on the mount and Joshua went forth to battle. After the victory Moses built an altar, and called the name of it ‘Jehovah Nissi,’ that is, Jehovah our Banner.” (Morgan)

Your beloved - Though defeated, we appeal to God's strong love towards us, though uncertain of outcomes, we know that whom the Lord loveth He chaseneth. Though I may tell other people's children when they are wrong, I do not discipline them. If God is my father then I should suspect that He will work all things to my good, even when it is painful, He is teaching me, like He told Peter, "what is that to you, you must follow me." There is no other way.

I will divide Shechem - Men may squabble over land between each other, but when the rightful owner steps in, who has the power to contest? It all belongs to God.

Ephraim is my helmet - "the strength of my head". He was the younger of Joseph's two sons, but received the greater blessing from Jacob. Let our minds be fixed upon the glory of God, sound in it's unfailing truth. No matter the size of the enemy, my mind is made up to follow Christ. 

6 with the choice gifts of the land and everything in it, and with the favor of Him who dwelt in the burning bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph and crown the brow of the prince of his brothers. 17 His majesty is like a firstborn bull and his horns like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.” 18 Concerning Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys, and Issachar, in your tents.… Deuteronomy 33: 16-18

Judah is my scepter - David and the Son of David come from the tribe of Judah. 

Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his. 11 He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.…Genesis 49: 9-11

Moab is my wash basin - Moab lifted itself against God, even when the seer they sent for, Balaam, could not prophecy anything but good over Israel, they still sought to destroy Israel from within, to set the people of God against God. In the end, every knee will bow. Moab will be a servant just like the false prophet Balaam, who came to serve himself, for his own glory, for things that are fading.

the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: 17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob,and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth. 18 Edom will become a possession, Seir will be owned by his enemies, but Israel will perform with valor.…Numbers 24: 16-18

Edom I toss my sandal - Edom was also known for their pride. The proud never look for the narrow gate, their egos would never fit inside. 

Who has rejected us (cast us off) - We are not experiencing victory as before, and not for lack of effort, we are also now skilled and trained. David has many mighty men, and he is a great warrior himself, but God has not gone out with them. The most difficult thing in the Christian walk is that men will often set aside God for secular reasoning. They will try to capture God, hold Him in a box, become vain in their religion, adopt the self help 12 step program for life. We come more to count upon a conservative culture, a talk show hosts, and the echos of those who like to have the same worldly confirmation that we do. We flatter ourselves, ignore the sin in our camp, and all the while forget our first love. Where should be my greatest thoughts of devotion, on whose feet should I lay this crown?

Human help is worthless - The battles that he faced, that we face in coming to Christ, in spiritual warfare, must needs a greater hero than any man. The only human friends or alliances that may help us are the one's that admit that they are not the answer, they point us back to God, to the cross. Only God Himself is able to save us from Himself. 

We will do valiantly: “Divine working is not an argument for human inaction, but rather is it the best excitement for courageous effort.” (Spurgeon)

I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. 14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction.… Philippians 4: 12-14