Psalm 60 — Through God We Shall Do Valiantly
A communal lament following military setback, opening bluntly: "God, you have rejected us... you have made the land tremble" (vv. 1-2) — no attempt to soften or explain away apparent defeat. The psalm's middle section (vv. 6-8) shifts into God's own voice, listing territories he claims as his to distribute, before returning to present reality: "haven't you, God, rejected us? You don't go out with our armies" (v. 10). It ends without a reported victory, only a statement of where confidence will be placed going forward: "through God we shall do valiantly" (v. 12).
- Verses 6-8's divine speech, listing territories (Shechem, Succoth, Gilead, Manasseh, Moab, Edom) by name, asserts God's rightful ownership over land currently contested — a claim of authority that outlasts the present military setback being described.
- The psalm doesn't resolve its opening complaint with a reported victory — it moves straight from acknowledging defeat (v. 10) to a statement of resolve (vv. 11-12), trust expressed before, not after, seeing the outcome.
- Verse 11's flat assessment — "the help of man is vain" — echoes Psalm 20:7 and 33:16-17's recurring point about where security doesn't lie, stated here in its bluntest form yet.
Psalms 60 (WEB)
1God, you have rejected us. You have broken us down. You have been angry. Restore us, again.
2You have made the land tremble. You have torn it. Mend its fractures, for it quakes.
3You have shown your people hard things. You have made us drink the wine that makes us stagger.
4You have given a banner to those who fear you, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
5So that your beloved may be delivered, save with your right hand, and answer us.
6God has spoken from his sanctuary: “I will triumph. I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth.
7Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine. Ephraim also is the defense of my head. Judah is my scepter.
8Moab is my wash basin. I will throw my shoe on Edom. I shout in triumph over Philistia.”
9Who will bring me into the strong city? Who has led me to Edom?
10Haven’t you, God, rejected us? You don’t go out with our armies, God.
11Give us help against the adversary, for the help of man is vain.
12Through God we shall do valiantly, for it is he who will tread down our adversaries.