Daily Devotions
Psalms
Psalm 60:3a "You have shown Your people hard things..."
Day 214 – Psalm 60
“You have shown Your people hard things…” Psalm 60:3a
MANY WARS
David had to fight many wars as king of ancient Israel. 2 Samuel 8 lists a number of enemies that David had to fight (more than the superscription hinted at). The full list below helps us to understand why David was under deep stress and strain when he was in battle.
1. Philistia 2 Samuel 8:1
2. Moab 2 Samuel 8:2
3. Zobah 2 Samuel 8:3-4 (Aramaen kingdom north of Damascus, Syria)
4. Syria 2 Samuel 8:5-6(Allies of Zobah)
5. Edom 2 Samuel 8:14
HARD TIMES
Wars are never easy on the soldiers or on the country. Inevitably there will be casualties. Suffering and death are never easy things to cope with! David felt the strain of leading Israel into seemingly endless battles. Hence he cried out to the Lord.
“You have shown Your people hard things;
You have made us drink the wine of confusion.”
Psalm 60:3
1. “You”
Once again David addressed the Lord directly. He traced all that the nation experienced back to what God had allowed.
2. “Your people”
The nation of Israel had indeed experienced “hard things” for war experiences are indeed hard times!
3. “The wine of confusion”
Entering into battle can be a very heady experience. Victory is always bitter-sweet. The carnage, the blood and gore and more are things associated with war. David compared that to wine that brings about a heady experience. Sometimes too much of the same thing can bring about “confusion” (or “staggering”).
REASONS WHY GOD ALLOWED ISRAEL TO GO THROUGH SUCH HARD TIMES
There were good reasons why God had allowed David and Israel to experience war.
1. The wars were the unfinished business from the days of Joshua (Judges 1-2).
2. There were enemy nations that were hostile to Israel and they must be engaged!
These war experiences helped to toughen David and the nascent kingdom of ancient Israel.