60:1ff This psalm gives us information about David’s reign not found in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel or 1 and 2 Chronicles. Although the setting of the psalm is found in 2 Samuel 8, that passage makes no reference to the fact that David’s forces had met stiff resistance (60:1-3) and apparently even a temporary defeat (60:9, 10). The closer we get to God, the more our enemies will attack us because we threaten their evil and selfish way of living.
60:4, 5 God loves truth, and the people who belong to God will rally to truth like soldiers to their flag. The apostle John wrote, “When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). Let the truth of God’s Word stir you to action and rally you to his cause.
60:6-10 God said the cities and territories of Israel were his, and he knew the future of each of the nations. When the world seems out of control, we must remind ourselves that God owns the cities and knows the future of every nation. God is in control. With God’s help, we will gain the victory.
60:8 David mentioned the enemy nations that surrounded Israel: Moab lay directly to the east, Edom to the south, and Philistia to the west. At the time this psalm was written, David was fighting Syria to the north. Although he was surrounded by enemies, David remembered that God had promised triumph over those nations. He knew that Israel’s future was closely tied to God’s reputation of keeping his promises.