Psalm 60, God over Enemy Nations

For the director of music. To [the tune of] "The Lily of the Covenant." A miktam of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

This psalm is intended to be used for teaching! It follows an episode reported in 2 Samuel10: 15-19.

The header of the psalm appears to describe events that occurred in II Samuel 8, I Kings 11.  See also Psalm 108:7-13.

Psalm 60:1-3, Rejected

 You have rejected us, O God,

 and burst forth upon us; 

you have been angry--

now restore us!

 You have shaken the land 

and torn it open; 

mend its fractures, 

for it is quaking.

You have shown your people desperate times; 

you have given us wine that makes us stagger.

The Edomites have turned and attacked David. David sees this as a rebuke. Indeed, God has made Israel stagger around as if drunk, weak and uncoordinated.

Psalm 60:4, Banner raised 

 But for those who fear you, 

you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow.

Selah.

But David sees a banner raised by God against the arrows of his enemies. The psalm then pauses for a change in perspective

Psalm 60:4-5, Deliver those You love! 

 Save us and help us with your right hand, 

that those you love may be delivered.

Now David begins to concentrate on God's deliverance. This change in viewpoint persists to the end of the psalm.

Psalm 60:6-7, All Israel is mine

 God has spoken from his sanctuary: 

"In triumph I will parcel out Shechem 

and measure off the Valley of Succoth.

 Gilead is mine, 

and Manasseh is mine; 

Ephraim is my helmet,

Judah my scepter.

God makes claims over Israel and any nearby rival nations. This psalm includes regions on both sides of the Jordan (Shechem, Succoth, Gilead and Manasseh) along with Ephraim and Judah west of the Jordan. The description fits the early kingdom of Israel, before the divided kingdoms. This is an argument in support of the header -- that this is indeed a psalm of David and not written later.

Psalm 60:8, Parceling out the tribes and nations

 Moab is my washbasin, 

upon Edom I toss my sandal; 

over Philistia I shout in triumph."

Three enemies, Moab, Edom and Philistia are dismissed. David says he can treat Moab as a place to bathe and Edom as a place where he keeps his shoes.

Psalm 60: 9-10, Have you rejected us?

 Who will bring me to the fortified city? 

Who will lead me to Edom?

 Is it not you, O God, you who have rejected us 

and no longer go out with our armies?

The statement at the beginning ("You have rejected us") is turned into a question.  

Psalm 60:11-12, God gives the victory

 Give us aid against the enemy, 

for the help of man is worthless.

 With God we will gain the victory, 

and he will trample down our enemies.

David calls on God, the same One who has defeated them, to finally give them victory.

Verses 6-12 here are identical with those of Psalm 108:7-13.