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Day 211

Psalm 60:1c "O restore us again..."

Day 211 – Psalm 60

“O restore us again…” Psalm 60:1c

SUPERSCRIPTION

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Lily of the Testimony.” A Michtam of David.
For teaching. When he fought against Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah, and Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the valley of Salt.

1. Standard features

a) To the Chief Musician
b) A Michtam of David

2. Special features

a) A new tune “Lily of the Testimony”
b) For teaching (This phrase was added specifically)
c) Historical context
i) Mesopotamian enemy
ii) Syrian enemy
iii) Edomites
iv) Joab (a significant general in David’s army)
d) Biblical text
i) There is no clear and direct description of this set of circumstances mentioned in Psalm 60.
ii) We have an allusion to the circumstances in 2 Samuel 8 and 1 Chronicles 18.
iii) The Syrians, the Edomites, Joab (and others) were specifically mentioned.

DIFFERENCES IN HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS

The historical accounts in 2 Samuel 8and 1 Chronicles 18 only described David’s conquests of his many enemies. There were many enemies and the historians (chroniclers) thought it was best to merely note the fact that all the enemies of David were subdued in battle.

David’s perspective in Psalm 60 was quite different, and understandably so. He was the one embroiled in battle. He knew and saw the dangers that presented themselves when fierce fighting took place in battle against the enemies of Israel. There were times when David and the army of Israel were in grave danger. It was this very real danger that David wrote about in Psalm 60.