““From Rejection to From Rejection to Restoration”Restoration”

(Psalm 60)(Psalm 60)

Why Study The Psalms?Why Study The Psalms? As Christians, we are commanded to utilize As Christians, we are commanded to utilize

the Psalms: the Psalms: Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns

and spiritual songs, singing and making and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, melody in your heart to the Lord, ((Ep 5:19))

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Lord. ((Col 3:16) )

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. ((Jm 5:13))

It has been said that in the Psalms one It has been said that in the Psalms one

finds “the longing for God's presence". It finds “the longing for God's presence". It certainly contains "prayers and songs of certainly contains "prayers and songs of joyous trust and praise." joyous trust and praise."

Indeed, every emotion known to man is Indeed, every emotion known to man is expressed in beautiful and inspired terms expressed in beautiful and inspired terms (e.g., joy, anger, praise, repentance, trust, (e.g., joy, anger, praise, repentance, trust, even doubt). even doubt).

Filled with some emotion for which you Filled with some emotion for which you cannot find the words to express it? It is cannot find the words to express it? It is likely you will find it expressed in the book likely you will find it expressed in the book of Psalms!of Psalms!

The Origin Of The Word "Psalm"The Origin Of The Word "Psalm" The Greek word is "psalmos", from the The Greek word is "psalmos", from the

Hebrew word "zmr" meaning "to pluck"; Hebrew word "zmr" meaning "to pluck"; i.e., taking hold of the strings of an i.e., taking hold of the strings of an instrument with the fingers.instrument with the fingers.

It implies that the psalms were originally It implies that the psalms were originally composed to be accompanied by a composed to be accompanied by a stringed instrument. stringed instrument.

David and others therefore originally wrote David and others therefore originally wrote the Psalms to be sung to the the Psalms to be sung to the accompaniment of the harp. accompaniment of the harp.

3) The Authors Of The Psalms3) The Authors Of The Psalms DavidDavid - Commonly thought to be the - Commonly thought to be the

author of the book of Psalms, but he author of the book of Psalms, but he actually wrote only about seventy-three actually wrote only about seventy-three (73), less than half. (73), less than half.

AsaphAsaph - The music director during the - The music director during the reigns of David and Solomon (reigns of David and Solomon (1 Chr 16:1-7). ). He wrote twelve (12) psalms. He wrote twelve (12) psalms.

The Sons of KorahThe Sons of Korah - These were Levites - These were Levites who served in the Temple (who served in the Temple (1 Chr 26:1-191 Chr 26:1-19). ). They wrote twelve (12) psalms. They wrote twelve (12) psalms.

SolomonSolomon - At least two (2) psalms are - At least two (2) psalms are attributed to him (attributed to him (Ps 72, 127Ps 72, 127). That he ). That he wrote many more is stated in wrote many more is stated in 1Ki 4:29-321Ki 4:29-32. .

MosesMoses - he wrote the earliest psalms; - he wrote the earliest psalms;

one is included in Psalms (one is included in Psalms (Ps 90Ps 90). ). HemanHeman - Contemporary with David and - Contemporary with David and

Asaph, and is known as "the singer" (Asaph, and is known as "the singer" (1Ch 1Ch 6:336:33). He wrote one psalm (). He wrote one psalm (Ps 88Ps 88) that ) that has been preserved. has been preserved.

EthanEthan - A companion with Asaph and - A companion with Asaph and Heman in the Temple worship (Heman in the Temple worship (1 Chr 1 Chr 15:1915:19). He wrote one psalm (). He wrote one psalm (Ps 89Ps 89). ).

AnonymousAnonymous - The authorship of forty- - The authorship of forty-eight (48) of the psalms is unknown.eight (48) of the psalms is unknown.

Introducing PsalmsIntroducing Psalms People look into the Psalms to find out who People look into the Psalms to find out who

they are. they are. Psalms bring into awareness an ancient Psalms bring into awareness an ancient

sorrow, yet release a latent joy. We use sorrow, yet release a latent joy. We use the Psalms to present ourselves before the Psalms to present ourselves before God as honestly and thoroughly.God as honestly and thoroughly.

The Psalms show us the shape of our souls The Psalms show us the shape of our souls and the curve of our sin, realities deep and the curve of our sin, realities deep within us, hidden and obscured, for which within us, hidden and obscured, for which we need focus.we need focus.

For the director of music. To the tune of For the director of music. To the tune of

“The Lily of the Covenant.” A “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktammiktam of of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah,Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.Edomites in the Valley of Salt.1 1 You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us;You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us;you have been angry—now restore us!you have been angry—now restore us!2 2 You have shaken the land and torn it open;You have shaken the land and torn it open;mend its fractures, for it is quaking.mend its fractures, for it is quaking.3 3 You have shown your people desperate times;You have shown your people desperate times;you have given us wine that makes us stagger.you have given us wine that makes us stagger.4 4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a But for those who fear you, you have raised a bannerbanner

5 5 Save us and help us with your right hand,Save us and help us with your right hand,

that those you love may be delivered.that those you love may be delivered.6 6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:God has spoken from his sanctuary:“In triumph I will parcel out Shechem“In triumph I will parcel out Shechemand measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.7 7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;Ephraim is my helmet,Ephraim is my helmet,Judah is my scepter.Judah is my scepter.8 8 Moab is my washbasin,Moab is my washbasin,on Edom I toss my sandal;on Edom I toss my sandal;over Philistia I shout in triumph.”over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

9 9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?Who will lead me to Edom?10 10 Is it not you, God, you who have now Is it not you, God, you who have now rejectedrejected us usand no longer go out with our armies?and no longer go out with our armies?11 11 Give us aid against the enemy,Give us aid against the enemy,for human help is worthless.for human help is worthless.12 12 With God we will gain the victory,With God we will gain the victory,and he will trample down our enemies.and he will trample down our enemies.

Psalm 60 is a *miktam. Psalm 60 is a *miktam.

A *miktam is either something made of gold, A *miktam is either something made of gold, or special teaching or something hiddenor special teaching or something hidden

In this Psalm David gives a model of how In this Psalm David gives a model of how to approach God when we indeed want His to approach God when we indeed want His help.help.

APPEAL OF GOD’S PEOPLE – Vss. 1-5APPEAL OF GOD’S PEOPLE – Vss. 1-5 APPRAISAL OF GOD’S POWER – Vss. 6-8APPRAISAL OF GOD’S POWER – Vss. 6-8 ASSURANCE OF GOD’S PARTICIPATION – ASSURANCE OF GOD’S PARTICIPATION –

Vss. 9-12Vss. 9-12

Note: Most Psalms written do not give us Note: Most Psalms written do not give us time when they were written, However, time when they were written, However, this psalm does,this psalm does,

Unfortunately, the sixtieth psalm is the last Unfortunately, the sixtieth psalm is the last of the psalms with a historical setting from of the psalms with a historical setting from the life of David. Psalm 60 also has one of the life of David. Psalm 60 also has one of the longest descriptive titles given to it. the longest descriptive titles given to it. We are told that this psalm’s background We are told that this psalm’s background is when David “fought with Aram is when David “fought with Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.” This Edomites in the Valley of Salt.” This descriptive title points us to the events of descriptive title points us to the events of 2 Samuel 8:1-142 Samuel 8:1-14

22ndnd Samuel Chapter 8 Samuel Chapter 8 11 11 King David also dedicated these to the LORD, King David also dedicated these to the LORD,

along with the silver and gold that he had along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued— subdued— 12 12 from Syria, from Moab, from the from Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, from people of Ammon, from the Philistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 13 And David made And David made himselfhimself a name when he a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syriansreturned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians

in the Valley of Saltin the Valley of Salt. . 14 14 He also put garrisons He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants.and all the Edomites became David’s servants.

22ndnd Samuel 8 tells us where David was. On Samuel 8 tells us where David was. On

the way home he fought the Syrians. While the way home he fought the Syrians. While this was happening an old enemy of Israel this was happening an old enemy of Israel called Edom attacked Jerusalem. David called Edom attacked Jerusalem. David sent one of his soldiers with part of the sent one of his soldiers with part of the army to fight the Edomites. They beat army to fight the Edomites. They beat them and killed 12 000 of them. This them and killed 12 000 of them. This happened in the Valley of Salt, near the happened in the Valley of Salt, near the Dead SeaDead Sea

Examples of rejection:Examples of rejection: JosephJoseph trapped in an Egyptian prison simply trapped in an Egyptian prison simply

because he refused to act against his because he refused to act against his principles and God's rules for lifeprinciples and God's rules for life

MosesMoses leading God's people in the desert in leading God's people in the desert in spite of their grumbling spite of their grumbling

JeremiahJeremiah and many other of God's prophets and many other of God's prophets who preached to people who shut their eyes who preached to people who shut their eyes and their ears to God's truthand their ears to God's truth

HoseaHosea who lived a life of rejection when his who lived a life of rejection when his wife left his home and children to be a wife left his home and children to be a prostitute - God called Hosea be a living prostitute - God called Hosea be a living parable of God's love in the world of his day.parable of God's love in the world of his day.

Rejection is a common experience in life. It Rejection is a common experience in life. It comes to all of us in time. Try as we may comes to all of us in time. Try as we may to avoid those times and places where we to avoid those times and places where we might encounter rejection of any of its might encounter rejection of any of its forms, sooner or later rejection finds us all. forms, sooner or later rejection finds us all. It is hard to keep pressing on through It is hard to keep pressing on through rejection. There is sometimes wisdom in rejection. There is sometimes wisdom in just standing still or even backing up.just standing still or even backing up.

  

The veil that the priest holds during the second The veil that the priest holds during the second

part of the prayer is a symbol of the middle wall, part of the prayer is a symbol of the middle wall,

that is the old enmity between us and God that that is the old enmity between us and God that

was taken down by the redemptive action of the was taken down by the redemptive action of the

Lord on the Cross.Lord on the Cross.

Only God can give victoryOnly God can give victory

1. David sums up this psalm by declaring 1. David sums up this psalm by declaring that only God can give victory. We cannot that only God can give victory. We cannot find the victory in ourselves. We cannot be find the victory in ourselves. We cannot be true successes without God’s help. We true successes without God’s help. We have no hope unless God is willing to act have no hope unless God is willing to act on our behalf. God will fulfill his covenant on our behalf. God will fulfill his covenant promises. Only with God’s help can the promises. Only with God’s help can the seemingly impossible take place.seemingly impossible take place.

Recovering From RejectionRecovering From RejectionGod understands rejection and knows how God understands rejection and knows how to remedy its pain. Christ was rejected to remedy its pain. Christ was rejected when He came to His own people and they when He came to His own people and they would not receive Him.would not receive Him. "He came to that "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not which was his own, but his own did not receive him." receive him." (John 1:11). He endured (John 1:11). He endured rejection when He bore our sins. rejection when He bore our sins. "He was "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:3).(Isaiah 53:3).

Jesus rejected and reviledJesus rejected and reviledIsa. 53:3 - "He was despised and forsaken Isa. 53:3 - "He was despised and forsaken of men"of men"Lk. 17:25 - "rejected by this generation"Lk. 17:25 - "rejected by this generation"I Peter 2:4 - "rejected by men"I Peter 2:4 - "rejected by men"I Peter 2:23 - "reviled, He did not revile in I Peter 2:23 - "reviled, He did not revile in return"return"

God is not rejectiveGod is not rejectiveLev. 26:11 - "My soul will not reject you"Lev. 26:11 - "My soul will not reject you"Isa. 41:9 - "I have chosen you and not Isa. 41:9 - "I have chosen you and not rejected you"rejected you"Ps. 94:14 - "the Lord will not abandon His Ps. 94:14 - "the Lord will not abandon His people"people"II Cor. 4:9 - "not forsaken"II Cor. 4:9 - "not forsaken"Heb. 13:5 - "I will never desert you, nor Heb. 13:5 - "I will never desert you, nor forsake you"forsake you"

God is not rejectiveGod is not rejectiveLev. 26:11 - "My soul will not reject you"Lev. 26:11 - "My soul will not reject you"Isa. 41:9 - "I have chosen you and not Isa. 41:9 - "I have chosen you and not rejected you"rejected you"Ps. 94:14 - "the Lord will not abandon His Ps. 94:14 - "the Lord will not abandon His people"people"II Cor. 4:9 - "not forsaken"II Cor. 4:9 - "not forsaken"Heb. 13:5 - "I will never desert you, nor Heb. 13:5 - "I will never desert you, nor forsake you"forsake you"

11 11 Give us aid against the enemy,Give us aid against the enemy,for human help is worthless.for human help is worthless.

Psalm 108 verse 12Psalm 108 verse 12

Oh give us help against the adversary,Oh give us help against the adversary,For deliverance by man is in vain.For deliverance by man is in vain.