When the Ground Gives Way
For the director of music. To the tune of "The Lily of the Covenant." A golden psalm 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.
60 1 Our Father, you have rejected us; you have broken through our defenses; you have been angry — now restore us! 2 You have made the land quake; you have torn it open. Heal its fractures, for it is tottering. 3 You have shown your people hard things; you have given us wine to drink that left us reeling. 4 You have given a banner to those who fear you, that they may rally to it before the bow. Selah. a a v4 'Before the bow' means in the face of enemy attack — a banner to rally around under fire.
5 That your beloved ones may be delivered, save us with your right hand and answer us.
6 Our Father has spoken in his holiness: "I will exult; I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Succoth. 7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is the helmet on my head, Judah my scepter. 8 Moab is my washbasin; on Edom I hurl my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph." b b v8 Throwing a sandal over a territory was an ancient gesture of claiming ownership and dominion.
9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10 Have you not rejected us, our Father? You no longer go out, our Father, with our armies. 11 Give us help against our enemies, for human rescue is worthless. 12 With our Father we will do valiantly; it is he who will trample our foes.