Psalms 60:6 - Meaning and Application

David is here rejoicing in hope and praying in hope. That is often how God’s people triumph, not mainly because of what they already have, but because of what they expect God to do. In verse 6, David says, “God has spoken in his holiness,” meaning God has given him his promise and sworn by his holy character, and he will not lie to David (Psalm 89:35). So David says he will rejoice and rest in the hope of that promise. God’s word of promise is a sure base for hope, and it is a full source of joy for all believers.

David first rejoices because he expects two things. One is the settling of this change in his own kingdom. Since God had spoken in his holiness that David would be king, David treats the kingdom as his own, as sure as if it were already in his hand. He says he will divide Shechem, a pleasant city in Mount Ephraim, and measure out the valley of Succoth as his own. He also says Gilead and Manasseh are his, meaning they are fully brought under his rule (Psalm 60:7).

David also expects useful support from the tribes. Ephraim would give soldiers for his bodyguard and standing army, and Judah would provide capable judges for his courts. So Ephraim would be the strength of his head, and Judah his lawgiver. In this way, a believing person can rejoice in God’s promises and enjoy all the good they hold, because in Christ all the promises are “yes” and “amen.” If God has spoken in his holiness, then pardon is mine, peace is mine, grace is mine, Christ is mine, heaven is mine, and God himself is mine. Everything belongs to you, if you belong to Christ (Colossians 3:22, 23).

David also rejoices because he expects victory over the surrounding nations that had troubled Israel, remained dangerous, and resisted his throne (Psalm 60:8). Moab will be brought into slavery and made to do the lowest work. The Moabites later became David’s servants (2 Samuel 8:2). Edom will be made like a place where refuse is thrown, or at least David will take possession of it as his own, which was pictured by drawing off a shoe over it (Ruth 4:7). As for the Philistines, let them boast if they dare, but David will soon make them change their tune.

Even so, the war is not yet over. There is still a strong city, perhaps Rabbah of the Ammonites, that continues to resist. Edom is also not yet fully subdued. So David asks for help to finish the task. He says, “Who will bring me into the strong city?” He is asking what allies or helpers he can depend on to gain full control over the enemy’s land and strongholds. Those who have started a good work naturally want to complete it and bring it to perfection.

He also expects help from God alone. “Will not you, O God?” he asks, since God has spoken in his holiness, and David trusts him to keep his word. David notices the hard times they have already been through. It seemed as if God had cast them off and had not gone out with their armies. When they were defeated, they knew it was because they lacked God’s gracious presence, or had lost it by sin. Yet they do not turn away from him. Instead, they cling to him more closely, and the less he seemed to do for them lately, the more they hoped he would do.

At the same time, they admit God was right in what had happened, and they still hope in his mercy for what lies ahead. Though he had seemed to cast them off, they trust he will not keep arguing with them forever or always be angry. Though he had seemed to reject them, he had already begun to show mercy, and they ask whether he will not finish what he has begun. The Son of David, Jesus, in his suffering also seemed cast off by his Father when he cried, “Why have you forsaken me?” Yet even then he won a glorious victory over the powers of darkness and their strong city, a victory that will surely be completed in the end, for he has gone on conquering and to conquer. God’s spiritual Israel are also more than conquerors through him. Even when they are tempted to think God has cast them off, and even when they lose some battles, God will bring them into the strong city at last. We are defeated in a battle, but not in the whole war. A living faith in the promise will assure us not only that the God of peace will soon crush Satan under our feet, but also that it is our Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom.

David also prays in hope. His prayer is, “Give us help from trouble” (Psalm 60:11). Even on the day of triumph, they still see themselves in trouble, because they are still at war, and war is troubling even for the side that is winning. So no one truly loves war except those who enjoy stirring up trouble for others. The help they ask for is protection from the enemies they are fighting. Even though they are winning now, war is uncertain, and without God’s help in the next battle they could still be defeated. So they pray, “Lord, send us help from the sanctuary.” They are asking for rest from war, because they are fighting for justice, not for selfish victory. In this way, they seek peace.

Their hope in prayer has two parts. First, they distrust themselves and all human help. “Vain is the help of man,” they say. We are ready to receive help from God only when we admit that every creature is too weak to do what we need God to do. Second, they trust God, his power, and his promise (Psalm 60:12). “Through God we shall do valiantly,” they say, and so they will also win, because he alone will trample their enemies down and receive the praise for it.

Our trust in God should never make us careless or inactive. It should strengthen us and move us to do our duty. Even though God does everything for us, there is still something for us to do. Hope in God is the best source of true courage. Those who do their duty under his direction can act bravely, because what need have they to fear if God is on their side? It is only through God, and by his grace, that we act bravely. He gives strength to weak and fearful people and fills them with courage and resolve. And even when we do our part well, the success belongs entirely to him, because he it is who tramples our enemies, not we ourselves. All our victories, like all our courage, come from him, and so all our praise must be laid at his feet.