I would like to encourage you to study Psalm 60 by doing three things. First, please read the psalm entirely. Second, please compare the outline with the text. Third, please think carefully about the list of lessons to be learned.  All three of these approaches are in this article, and all three are valuable methods of study.  We must never neglect the actual reading of the Bible (1 Timothy 4:13).  We must never neglect to learn how the Bible is structured (2 Timothy 2:15). And we must never neglect making the applications to our lives (2 Corinthians 13:5).

So, here we go, beginning with the text of Psalm 60:

Now, let us note a brief outline of the poem.  It has four main points, all of which emphasize things that the writer “finally understands.”
 

1. We finally understand the situation (60:1-3).  In this section, David confesses that the troubles that were being experienced at that time were clearly due to their need to be chastised by God.  He was doing this because they had failed Him!

1. We finally understand true salvation (60:4,5).  In this section, David admits that they should have been holding God’s banner high, but since they had not “feared” God properly, they were now the ones who needed to be rescued—and only God could do it for them.  They could not be delivered apart from His saving hand and His open ear.

1. We finally understand thy sovereignty (60:6-8).  In this section, David reminds himself and all others that God, according to His rights as the ruler of the universe and the God of hosts, has all of the nations and tribes in His power.  He will make use of them accordingly.

1. We finally understand false salvation (60:9-12).  In this section, David acknowledges that men cannot help right now—“vain is the help (salvation) of men”.  He concludes with the great truth that we will (only) do valiantly (virtuously) if that which we do is done through God!

Let us now note some of the applications that can be made from this psalm.  We will do this in a verse by verse fashion.

v.1:  When God casts off His Own, it is due to their sin.  When they repent, He will restore (Acts 8:18-24).
v.1:  When God is displeased with me—it is my fault!
v.2:  God can, and will, chastise us in painful ways in order to warn us before it is “everlastingly too late.”
v.3:  Hard things can come our way when we rebel against God.  The Hebrew word for hard includes “harsh, severe, difficult, distressing, calamitous.”  Are you willing to live in such a way that He might do this to you?  Are you humble enough to examine yourself when bad things happen in order to learn whether or not it is a chastening (Hebrews 12:5-17)?
v.3:  God can make us look very bad when we have been bad: like the wavering walk of the drunk.
v.4:  Our banner—Jehovah Nissi (see Exodus 17) must be held high.  The same idea is in the New Testament in the story of the cross (John 3:14,15; Luke 9:23; 14:26ff).
v.4:  We cannot display His banner properly unless we are living properly.
v.5:  We are loved.
v.5:  But the fact that we are loved does not free us to live as we please.
v.6:  When God speaks, it is out of His holiness.  Let us bow before Him and listen.
vv.6-8:  God’s tribes, and the enemies of His tribes, are subject to God’s ability to do with them as He pleases.  If they and we do not humble ourselves, He has the right to divide us, measure us, “own” us, and humble us.  If we do humble ourselves, He will lift us up (James 4:1-10).
v.9:  If we do not look to God when we need help, all of our looking will be in vain.
v.10:  Our predicament is not so severe that God cannot help, but our appeal must be a humble one.  Let us never demand anything of God.
v.10:  Let us remember that when we go out as the army of God, He will only go with us when we are going in harmony with His word.  Otherwise, He will let us go alone—and we will lose.
v.11:  The help of men is vain.  When it comes to the deliverance, rescue, and salvation that really matters, WE NEED GOD.
v.12:  “Valiantly.”  What a word!  The whole human race loves this word.  In Hebrew, it is also translated “virtuous.”  And this is where we miss the point.  We think that people can be valiant without being virtuous.  BUT, MY FRIEND, THEY ARE EXACTLY THE SAME THING!  You cannot have one without the other.  If you are not a virtuous person, you are not a valiant person.  And you, in that condition, cannot hold up the banner of the Lord.  So, what is this grace called virtue?  Read Proverbs 31: 10-31; and 2 Peter 1:1-7, and you will begin to get the picture. Then read the book of Ruth, and note how Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi were valiant and virtuous.
v.12:  Now, you are ready to tread down the enemies of God (Ephesians 6:10-20).

    — Skip Andrews
 

SICK LIST:  Electa Wilson (Room 106, Gwinnett Extended Care) and Steve Fishel remain in our prayers.  
 
 
SYMPATHY:  Donna Fields passed away early last Sunday morning.  Her funeral was Tuesday.  We pray for the family during this time of loss and offer our sympathy and comfort.  
GROUP 3:  Group 3 is in charge of the services at Plantation South at 1:30.  Also, please meet up front following evening services for visitation assignments.
CHILDREN’S CLASS:  5:30 today.
SEEKING THE LOST:  Class will meet Sunday evening, July 30, at 7:15.
FOR THE RECORD: 
AM Class   89
AM Worship   125
PM Worship   114
Monday VBS   100
Tuesday VBS   105  Wednesday   106
Contribution   $6484  
Budget    $6500  
 AWAY:  Ed Crookshank and Rod Rutherford are in Zambia and will return July 19.  In the follow-up work to our correspondence courses, there have been three baptisms.  Let’s remember them as they travel and work.
ICE CREAM SOCIAL:  There will be an ice cream social and housewarming party for Lori Andrews (who has just bought her first house) on Sunday, July 16, following evening services.  Please bring your favorite ice cream and celebrate with Lori.  (See Jane Graham or Tracie Lanier if you have any questions).
 
 
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL:  We want to thank all who helped make our VBS such a success.  We appreciate you all!