- God has spoken in his holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth. Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter. Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.” Psalm 60:6-8 – The image we are to see through this whole psalm is that David was in some level of defeat within a battle, yet calls upon the Lord for help. David knows God is worthy to give His allegiance to despite the current defeats he was facing, so David raises the banner of God and declares God’s holiness and his need of the Lord. Our verses show God’s response, and it was one of blessing and curse. For God’s people God was going to bring victory and divide up the contested land for them, meaning the battle they were facing was already won. For the enemies (Moab, Edom, Philistia) God was to bring about their defeat, to wash away and cast away. While we saw this in our previous study of Deuteronomy, we are seeing this again in the book of Psalm. God’s blessing comes on His people who are faithful to Him and God’s wrath/curse/punishment comes on those who reject God’s ways and who come against God’s people. Know such a narrative isn’t just in scripture but within our life today. God fights for, blesses, and brings victory to the lives of those who faithfully follow His word. At the same time God’s wrath still comes on those who reject Him. That looks like them missing out on God’s joys and peace, but also eternal separation from God once they die. This choice of following God or not following God is all over scripture and it’s in front of you today as well. God has never failed to bring about His promised blessings or His promised wrath. Choose then to follow after the God who is faithful to His word. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3473
- You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. Psalm 60:2 – As we read our final chapter in psalms for this year’s reading plan, David is once again in familiar place as he writes this psalm. He is in a state of trouble needing the help of the Lord. We learn from the header that this psalm looks back on a time when David and his armies were in serious battles with neighboring lands, and from the wording of the psalm itself it appears David isn’t finding much victory. Why though is that the case? Because the Lord wasn’t fighting for them in these battles. Verse 1 says David felt as if the Lord had rejected him and it was the Lord that broke down their defenses. The earth beneath them felt as if it had been torn apart and they were about to fall into the abyss of defeat. What David knew though, and what he expressed in this psalm, is a powerful truth. The God who tore open the earth also has the power to bring it back together. David pleads with the Lord to repair the breaches and bring back together what God tore apart. As we seek to apply this passage to our life, remember that while the Lord may use drastic methods to get our attention and course correct our life, He also has the power to restore what He tore apart. If He removed a job, He can bring a new one. If he ended a relationship, He can provide a healthier one. If He allowed a sickness to come, He can heal it. Why though would God “open the earth” like this in the first place and not handle it differently? Possibly the Lord tried and we refused to listen, yet whatever the reason may be, if God allowed it then that course was the best choice. If then you are finding yourself in the same spot as David, where the earth seems to be falling apart from beneath you, pray the same prayer as David that the Lord would bring things back together. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3015
- You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah Psalms 60:3-4 – God allows us to see and feel the consequences of our bad choices. Not because He doesn’t love us or enjoys seeing us struggle, but as a good Father He knows that we will learn what isn’t good for us when we see and feel those consequences. What’s beautiful about the attaching verse four is that God has set up for us a banner, a place where we can run to find safety and rest. The banner is also a place where we can find the support from God we need to fight the very enemy that deceived us to begin with. These verses should reframe how you view struggles in your life. While some struggles are as a result of following God, other are a result of us not following Him. Either way, remember a struggle can be the perfect reminder of our need for God and our need to run to His banner He set up for us. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 996
- 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. Psalm 60:11-12 – I wonder where each of us are at with all this? Have we truly gotten to the point where we understand and believe that the salvation man gives isn’t what we need. I’m sure many of us would say this to be true. That we trust Jesus alone and He is the source of all we need. Yet, setting our words aside and looking at our actions, what do they say? Are we needing approval from others when God’s approval is all we need? Are we leaning into food to cope with the stress of life when Jesus should be the place we lean into? Are we trusting our good works to get us into Heaven? Is God the source of your salvation or is man? What/Who are you coming to for your help today and for your tomorrow? Scripture reminds us the salvation and help man gives us isn’t what we need for our story. It also reminds us that with God we’ll find victory and hope. Let your trusting God for your help be more than just words, truly let Him be the source of all you need. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2020
Daily DEVO 