Daily Bible Reading Wednesday 26th November 2025
by William Moody
Psalms 60–61
He Will Tread Down Our Foes
To the choirmaster: according to Shushan Eduth. A Miktam1 of David; for instruction; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return struck down twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.
60:1 O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;
you have been angry; oh, restore us.
2 You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open;
repair its breaches, for it totters.
3 You have made your people see hard things;
you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.
4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
that they may flee to it from the bow.2 Selah
5 That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer us!
6 God has spoken in his holiness:3
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet;
Judah is my scepter.
8 Moab is my washbasin;
upon Edom I cast my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”4
9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.
11 Oh, grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
12 With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.
Lead Me to the Rock
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. Of David.
61:1 Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
2 from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
3 for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
4 Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah
5 For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6 Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!
7 May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!
8 So will I ever sing praises to your name,
as I perform my vows day after day.Footnotes
[1] 60:1
Probably musical or liturgical terms
[2] 60:4Or that it may be displayed because of truth
[3] 60:6Or sanctuary
[4] 60:8Revocalization (compare Psalm 108:10); Masoretic Text over me, O Philistia, shout in triumph (ESV)
Psalm 60 is linked to an account of David’s victories in 2 Samuel 8 v1-14. Despite great victories David is very aware of his own and Israel’s weaknesses. He speaks clearly of their need of the Lord and how victory will only come if the Lord marches out with them.
There is a real danger in the life of the church and in our own lives that our reliance is far too much on ourselves and on what we do. We can test how dependent we are on God by the amount of time we spend praying.
In Psalm 61 David’s desire can be summarised with the request, “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.” Real dependence on God comes as we’re aware both of our own weakness and also the greatness of the Lord.
In this Psalm David expresses and great desire not just for help but for an experience of being in God’s presence (v4).
The King who is forever enthroned in God’s presence has to be Jesus rather than David (v6-7). Yet amazingly those who are in Christ, including David, will reign with Christ forever (2 Timothy 2 v12). This is truly a glorious prospect.
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