Psalm 60 – Let God change your Trials into Triumph

Why?  Why did You allow this to happen to ME?

Help, Lord, I need HELP!!! (Job)

*When my plans collide with God’s plan, which plan do I want to survive?

“Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise physician prescribes, because we need them; and He proportions the frequency and weight of them to what the case requires.”  John Newton

A psalm of  David, useful for teaching.  Time frame: 2 Samuel 8:13-14.  David was a long way from home, in Babylon, now Iraq.  Edom attacked Jerusalem.  David sent one of his soldiers with part of the army to fight the Edomites.  They beat and killed 12,000 of them.  This happened in the Valley of Salt, near the Dead Sea.  When the Edomites attack Jerusalem, David thought that God had left them.  Why did God allow this to happen to His people?

Vs. 1-3  David is devastated.  His land is reeling from defeat. 

          Why?  The whys of life are devastating.  They …!

          Questions come, “What have we done”?  He sees it as a Spiritual defeat.  Look at how he talks to God.

          God and the uses of YOU.  You rejected us, You are angry with us, You have shaken our land,

          You are very hard on us.

David had been enjoying victory, taking the watchcare of God for granted, perhaps.  Now he sees his land shaken, uses words picturing an earthquake.  His people have been swallowed up…The land seems to have opened up and devoured his army.  They are so shaken that it feels as though they have had bad wine, they are staggering around in uncertainty.  What just happened?  We have been defeated in war.  Where is God?

David repeats the pattern in his life – He runs to the promises of God

Vs. 4  But God, You!  David sees the banner of hope.  The rallying place.  God is calling His people together.

Vs. 5  David calls on his God.  Rescue us by Your power, by Your Right hand.

“We may by faith ask for and expect that our extremity will be God’s opportunity.”

-Spurgeon

Vs. 6-8  God, you have promised

          David reflects on the promises of God to Israel

          This land was God’s and He is still in charge

Vs. 9-10  Three rhetorical questions.

          1.  Who will bring me into the fortified city?

          2.  Who will bring me victory over Edom?

          3.  Isn’t it You, God?

Vs. 11-12  David continues his prayer in confidence.

          Please help us!

          Humanly, this is impossible.

          With Your help, we will do might things.

          You, Yourself, O God will trample down our foes.

Honesty when all seems to be  going wrong

Remember God’s romises – Let them be a banner over your life

Recognize that He is able and we aren’t

Don’t take God’s intervention and protection for granted.

We are in a relationship with Him and He is worthy of our focus!