A RALLYING POINT
Key Verse: “Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies” (v.12).
Key Theme: Seemingly rejected and then restored by God.
Key Descriptives of God: Giver of Inheritance; Source of Victory
Day 60 of 67! We come into our last week in this amazing journey. More than ever I am so aware of a synchronicity with our reading and real-time events. Yesterday ANTIFA and the “Shadow Government” were the topic and then on the back channels of information (some of you know) that was also the main topic. Today is 9/11 and the whole world remembers that day. The first three verses of Psalm 60 sound like a commentary on that day. With all the fires, violence, and uproar these also sound like today’s realities. I will be going back and forth between the KKJV and the NLT because they go back and forth in best application for us now.
CONTEXT: REJECTED?
The chapter heading tells us the timeline for this Psalm. It is out of 1 Chronicles 18 when this victory over the Edomites is spoken of. When reading this story there you don’t know or can’t pick up on any of the concerns of this Psalm. Either David is first referring to how things were under Saul as king, or momentarily even during his victorious military campaigns of 1 Chronicles 18, he had some doubts.
“O, God, You have cast us off; You have broken us down; You have been displeased; Oh, RESTORE US AGAIN!” (v.1)
This has been so applicable to us and why we are repenting a lot and why even a MAGA theme resonates.
HARD THINGS: A WINE OF CONFUSION
Verse 2 seems very relevant to us now. “You have shaken our land and split it open. SEAL THE CRACKS, for the land trembles.” Either a literal earthquake or an earthquake of events was what David was speaking of. Now verse 3, “You have SHOWN Your people HARD THINGS; You have made us drink the WINE OF CONFUSION.” This speaks volumes to me in this day of exposure. Getting “woke” has come in waves. Each level of “wokeness” is about HARD THINGS. Two years ago I prophesied about a “Rude Awakening” preceding a “Great Awakening” and boy has that been true. In the progression of it all, a WINE OF CONFUSION is surely present. As I said it is “uncanny” or “divine orchestration” how relevant this Psalm 60 is for this 9/11 day.
A RALLYING POINT
“But You have raised a BANNER for those who fear You— A RALLYING POINT in the face of attack” (v.4). Suddenly, David makes a shift from looking at the challenges of the day and sees the Lord raise a flag or banner. Banners were for military campaigns and it meant WE ARE AT WAR. This is a God-sanctioned war and His battle strategies are often very counter-intuitive. In Song of Solomon 2:4, it speaks of Him bringing us into His banqueting house and “His banner over me is LOVE.” It is war out there but He invites us into a place of joy and intimacy and LOVE IS THE BANNER we fight under. We must never forget that and always incorporate it practically.
SAVE US BY YOUR POWER
Verse 5 is worth reading in both the NLT and NKJV. Both speak of the Lord saving with His power/right hand. One speaks of rescuing His “beloved people” and one just “Your beloved”— a more personal matter. It is interesting in the 1 Chronicles 18 reading that should accompany the reading of this Psalm that twice it says, “So the Lord PRESERVED David EVERYWHERE HE WENT” (v. 6,13). There it tells of multiple military campaigns with it always being accompanied by great resources of silver and gold coming to David. Great battles. Great victories. Great finances. It all seems quite in line with President Trump’s “Cyrus” call and it does seem like today. Hard things, cracks in the land but God’s “David” for the hour being “preserved” “everywhere He went”.
MEASURING INHERITANCE
Verses 6-8 become suddenly very prophetic with God laying out how all these battles have to do with inheritance He is giving Israel and even boundary parameters of it all. It would take a long post just to cover this part as both naturally and spiritually every name and location is of importance. For us the application is that this 2020 time of war is about our God finding new parameters of inheritance (Promised Land) for us.
EPHRAIM AND JUDAH
“Ephraim, My helmet, will produce My warriors, and Judah, My scepter will produce My kings” (v.7). Ephraim was Joseph’s son, means “double-fruitfulness”, and represents the Mountain of Economy. God is raising “economic warriors” at this time during this conflicted season. These perhaps go in and out of feeling rejected and restored like David here. If you have a primary assignment on that mountain and can identify then be encouraged— you are right on schedule 🙂 Judah, means “praise”, was David’s tribe and connects to the Mountain of Government. The Economy and Government as focus ties in with the Cyrus’ anointing of Isaiah 45. If you are asking, “Is Trump a Cyrus or a David?” the answer is both. He’s a David, but if you don’t think him spiritual or perfect enough to be a David, he’s a Cyrus. God is covering His bases for all who would reject the call He has given President Trump. David and Cyrus both won tremendous military campaigns. David and Cyrus both had massive “hidden treasures” come into their hands. Both had a unique role and concern for Jerusalem. One knew God, one didn’t. Think of President Trump as a synthesis of David and Cyrus, with an invitation to him to fully become a David. But God will accomplish the ordained assignment through President Trump whether he fully becomes a David or not. You nor I set the rules for that. God does. Maybe he tweets like Cyrus and inspires like David— but he is still “the anointed” of God. Deal with it 🙂
ALL HUMAN HELP IS USELESS
“Oh, please help us against our enemies, for ALL HUMAN HELP IS USELESS” (v.11). The heading of this chapter tells of Israel slaying 12,000 Edomites. 1 Chronicles 18, is full of major victory after major victory for David and Israel. Yet, at no time is there any departure from David’s absolute trust in the Lord. This was now late in his life were excess self-confidence and reading of his own press releases could have led him to be otherwise. He was king for 40 years even AFTER defeating Goliath, yet never leaned on human might and know-how. I can’t tell you how hard that is— and therein the secret to his ongoing success. Never, an “I got it this time” God, you can cover some weaker folk. He was the “weaker folk”— ALWAYS. Yet, feared nothing— because in actual practice, “greater was He that was in him then he that was in the world”. It wasn’t a slogan that allowed him to trust HIMSELF more. It was a conscious reality and ongoing choice that allowed the greatness of God in him to be accessed. He is great IN US when we empty ourselves of dependence on anything else. We the weak, can then properly say, “I am strong”.
THROUGH GOD
“Though God WE will do valiantly, For it is HE who shall tread down our enemies” (v.12). This is our key verse and essentially what I just explained. WE do valiantly because HE does valiantly. WE can level giants because HE IN US is at FULL. Our gas tank contains HIM and not US. “Getting all our ducks in a row” is a false FULL on our car’s dashboard and at best you become a high functioning human and maybe become twice what is “normal”. Only God in the tank gets you at “one puts a thousand to flight” or “running through a troop” or “leaping over walls.” Radical accessing of Him comes from radical dependence on Him. Yes, “have a positive-self image and feel good about yourself” but do that over how intentionally dependent you are of Him and not how independent of HELP you are. In other words, “I am so weak and totally dependent on God that I feel really good about myself and walk around with that confidence.” This is confidence in having filled your tank with the correct fuel and not confidence in not needing fuel. The latter is PRIDE that leads to a FALL. Let’s not build confidence on the wrong thing. Keep letting His face shine upon you!
Written by: Johnny Enlow
Featured Image by chris ganser on Unsplash
67 DAY COUNTDOWN SERIES
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The 67 Day Countdown Series is brought to you by Johnny and Elizabeth Enlow, founders of Restore7 ministry, as well as international speakers and best-selling authors. Among Johnny’s books are The Seven Mountain Prophecy, The Seven Mountain Mantle, Rainbow God, The Seven Mountain Renaissance, Becoming A Superhero, and RISE. Elizabeth serves as CEO and penned Rainbow God: The Seven Colors of Love and God in Every Season.
