PSALM SIXTY IN THE VALLEY OF SALT! The Title of this psalm merits attention - upon Shushaneduth, a mitcham of David: "Upon the Law of God in the Books of Moses." Our confidence must never depend upon the writing or testimony of others. We do not decry people's testimony - we accept that that is what God has done for them. Nor do we deny that it is good for us to read what is other people's explanation of the Scriptures. But what really counts in our spiritual life is what God has done for us. We read and meditate on the Law of God in the Books of Moses but God's workings for us depend upon us reading the Scriptures for ourselves. This psalm is the last of six with the title MITCHAM = TO TEACH. This is a psalm for teaching. It is a Mitcham of David to teach when he strove with Aramnaharim and with Aramzubah, when Joab returned and smote 12000 men of Edom in the Valley of Salt. It is the story of a mighty battle. Before the even, however, there is a terrible striving with great and strong enemies. God never ! changes. He gives us the victory. In the psalm David declares, "Through our God we shall do valiantly," and that statement was not made when the battle was over, but when he was in the midst of it. STRIVE does not mean to conquer, but to contend with - to fight. In the account of the historical occasion, ARAM is the word for Syria, and NAHARIAM refers to Mesopotamia. David was referring to the Syrians who dwelt in Mesopotamia, and to Aram and Zobah, that part of Syria to which Syria of Mesopotamia was tributary, an area ruled over by REHOB. It all concerns a victory over the Edomites in the valley of salt - probably El Ghor south of the Dead Sea. 12,000 were slain. A stark reminder that psalms were not pretty ditties to be merrily sung, but songs born out of dreadful experiences. When the psalmist said, "O God why have you cast us off?" he meant it. They were in dire straights, and needed the help of God. Let us start with the first verse, in which we feel an expression of the lack of the presence of God. "O God, thou hast cast us off." In the latter part of Saul's reign the whole set up was disaster. Saul was a man who had been anointed to reign over Israel, and yet his reign at the latter end was a complete disaster. Irreligion had rapidly grown in the country and there is evidence that God was angry with His people. God does get angry, because we can disgrace the Name of God by irreligious actions. The Israelites were practising religions which were not Faith in the Living God. This is evident time after time in the history of Israel; they turned aside from true worship of Jehovah. They entered into religious practices of the countries around them. Thus the psalmist pleads, "O God, turn Thyself towards us again." God has rent the nation - God has made the land to tremble. David prays, "O God, heal the breaches." None but God can give effective relief when the people have turned away from Him. I have heard people say, "Well, if you talk to them, if you argue with them, it will do some good." People are prepared to argue until they drop into their graves. It needs the touch of God to bring the hearts of men to Faith in Him. Only God can restore former vigour to spiritual things. Note the fact that Divine Severity is dreadful. "Thou hast shown Thy people hard things: Thou hast caused us to drink the wine of astonishment," the psalmist sings. So much is said today about the Love of God. It is said in a sloppy, sentimental way. We must ever be mindful of the fact that the greatest proof of God's Love is Calvary - His Son upon a cross in my place. God's Love and God's Sincerity are part and parcel of the same Divine Personality. The wine of astonishment could intoxicate - make merry. After a dreadful war with such a cost (12,000 lives), the relief brought them a short lived joy. The same wine of astonishment could also stupefy - now the people felt inept, they were stupefied by the severe judgment of the Almighty. The same wine of astonishment could kill. The nation was now in a position wherein the people had neither the heart nor the power to do anything effective. In such a situation the nation could waste away. But David sings, "Thou hast given a banner to them that fear Thee, that it may be displayed because of the Truth." Even after disaster, the Truth is, GOD IS STILL IN CHARGE. Some years ago my wife and I were motoring down to the West Country in Britain, in a beautiful black car. Just after we had passed the lovely town of Exeter, my wife said to me, "There doesn't seem to be much traffic about. The road is clear." It did seem strange. We were the only ones travelling on what was usually a busy road. Something was happening. "O well," I said, "that policeman touched his hat and waved us on. We must be alright." Then suddenly my wife exclaimed, "Look at that car travelling towards us. It must be royalty." "Don't be silly Madge," I said, "you are Royalty mad." "But", she said, "I can see the Royal Standard flying." Sure enough, there was the banner. In a moment or so we were waving hands to the Queen and her Consort. It was THE FLAG that convinced me, and then I saw her maje! sty for myself. The Banner of God has been given to His people. What banner had God given to His people of old? JEHOVAH NISSI - God with us. It is a banner, says the psalm, which can be displayed because of the TRUTH. God is always true to His Word. When we feel that He is afar off: When you have drunk the wine of astonishment: Read His Word, and Fly the Flag. There is in the Word of God a constant assurance given of God Promising His Presence. David sings here, "God has spoken in His Holiness - I will rejoice." When God speaks to you He is bound by His oath, He will never break His Promise. David lists all the good things God had promised for each Region. God is still in control and He will GIVE US HELP IN TROUBLE. How vain is the help of man. Here is a triumphant blast at the end of the song:- "Through God we shall do valiantly." Copyright (c) 1996, Hedley Palmer. All rights reserved. ---------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/hpalmer/psalms: ps-060.txt .