#DailyDevotion The LORD Jesus Christ Has Trampled Our Enemies
Psalm 60 6God spoke from His sanctuary: “I will be exultant and divide up Shechem, and measure off the valley of Succoth. 7Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim is a helmet on My head; Judah is My scepter; 8Moab is the basin I wash in; I will plant My sandal on Edom -I have shouted in triumph against Philistia.”
In response to David’s prayer of complaint, that the LORD had abandoned His people, that He had given them up to the enemy and his prayer for the LORD to save them by His right hand, the LORD answers David from the sanctuary. This would most likely have been a message from a priest or prophet at the tabernacle. Wouldn’t it be nice if the LORD sent answers to our prayers like this. You know, we pray and then the pastor calls and says, “I was sitting at my desk and the LORD spoke to me and told me to tell you x, y and z.” As it is, we have to normally wait to see the LORD’s answer to our prayer take place.
The LORD’s answer here is relatable to the inscription on the Psalm. The place names here are where David will go forth and establish his rule over the Promised Land. The LORD lays claim on all these places and they will under David’s authority as well. In fact, as the LORD had promised to Abraham, David would extend the kingdom through Syria up to the Euphrates river. The Philistines and Canaanites would finally be defeated. Even before David completes this task, the LORD has shouted in triumph over them all.
9Who, then, will bring me into the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10Didn’t You reject us, O God? Didn’t You, O God, refuse to go out with our armies? 11Give us help against the enemy, for human deliverance is useless! 12With God we’ll do great things. He will trample down our enemies.
Did David believe the message related to him? He seems to be doubting here a bit. Maybe it’s because we would doubt a little too if the pastor came and told us, “The LORD told me to tell you…” David still seems stuck on the LORD having rejected Israel and having refused to go with their armies. I can’t remember a time when David was leading the armies the LORD did not give him victory. Well, the Bible doesn’t tell us everything that ever happened. It tells what we need to know to believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, our LORD and Savior.
But David has words of faith here as well. He prays the LORD will help them against the enemy. David does not trust in human effort. He does not trust in horses, chariots, armies, swords and shields. If the LORD does not go with them, it is useless. So he prays to the LORD to accompany him and his armies against the enemies of Israel as the LORD had promised He would in the Torah (first five books of the Old Testament).
David expresses great confidence in the LORD and we should as well. “With God we will do great things. He will trample down our enemies.” In the midst of a Psalm that is filled with such doubt as to whether or not the LORD was with them or not, David has great confidence in the ability of the LORD our God. We should have the same confidence in our LORD Jesus Christ. He has indeed trampled down our enemies-sin, death and the power of the devil. He promised us, “You will do greater things than these,” when the disciples marveled at Jesus’ miracles. Indeed, through the simple sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ, we bring people from death to life, from darkness into light, and from lies into the truth. May we always believe that as we live out our lives with faith in Jesus.
Almighty God and Father, You fulfilled Your promise to Abraham through David to the Israelites. Now in Christ Jesus, give us faith He will fulfill His promises to us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.