Psa 60:12 | KingComments | STEP | After God has announced His right of ownership of various places and areas inside and outside Israel, David asks: “Who will bring me into the besieged city?” ( ). The fortress of Petra, built in rock, the capital of Edom, is that besieged city. Because of its natural location, it is humanly impossible to conquer that city. Is there anyone, David wonders, who can lead him “to Edom”, to its center? He himself gives the answer to his question. It can be none other than God ( ). But God has rejected. Here faith speaks. The God Who has rejected them is the Only One Who can help him and his army. Certainly, God did not march out with the armies of His people, so they were defeated. But that makes it immediately clear that the only way to overcome is for God to go out with them again. David said in that God had rejected Israel and therefore did not go with Israel. But now God wants Israel to go to battle. David says that it is only possible if He Himself goes with them. He does like Moses who says to the LORD: “If Your presence does not go [with us], do not lead us up from here” ( ). After all his considerations, David comes to the conclusion that he can only do powerful deeds if God gives them His help. Thus he comes to the intercession of . Those who fear God can appeal to no one else in their distress but Him alone ( ). God has brought them into that distress and therefore He is the Only One Who can also lead them out of it. That is why they cry out for His help. They know: “Deliverance by man is in vain” (cf. ). We can also apply this spiritually. When a man is in spiritual distress over his sins, there is no man who can help him. The Only One Who can help is God. He alone can deliver him from the burden of his sins, no one else. For this cause He gave His Son. The same applies to the guidance in the believer’s life. Only God knows which way to go. Therefore, he must come to Him and not be led by men. He has given His Word and His Spirit to guide him. Only with God, with His help, can God’s people do valiantly ( ). He provides His people with strength and courage to fight the enemies. This statement demonstrates trust in God in the awareness of one’s own powerlessness. If He is with them, they will tread down their adversaries, which is to say that God treads them down (cf. ).

‏ Psalms 60:12

Prayer for Help From Distress

After God has announced His right of ownership of various places and areas inside and outside Israel, David asks: “Who will bring me into the besieged city?” (Psa 60:9). The fortress of Petra, built in rock, the capital of Edom, is that besieged city. Because of its natural location, it is humanly impossible to conquer that city. Is there anyone, David wonders, who can lead him “to Edom”, to its center?

He himself gives the answer to his question. It can be none other than God (Psa 60:10). But God has rejected. Here faith speaks. The God Who has rejected them is the Only One Who can help him and his army. Certainly, God did not march out with the armies of His people, so they were defeated. But that makes it immediately clear that the only way to overcome is for God to go out with them again.

David said in Psa 60:1b that God had rejected Israel and therefore did not go with Israel. But now God wants Israel to go to battle. David says that it is only possible if He Himself goes with them. He does like Moses who says to the LORD: “If Your presence does not go [with us], do not lead us up from here” (Exo 33:15).

After all his considerations, David comes to the conclusion that he can only do powerful deeds if God gives them His help. Thus he comes to the intercession of Psa 60:11-12. Those who fear God can appeal to no one else in their distress but Him alone (Psa 60:12). God has brought them into that distress and therefore He is the Only One Who can also lead them out of it. That is why they cry out for His help. They know: “Deliverance by man is in vain” (cf. Isa 2:22).

We can also apply this spiritually. When a man is in spiritual distress over his sins, there is no man who can help him. The Only One Who can help is God. He alone can deliver him from the burden of his sins, no one else. For this cause He gave His Son. The same applies to the guidance in the believer’s life. Only God knows which way to go. Therefore, he must come to Him and not be led by men. He has given His Word and His Spirit to guide him.

Only with God, with His help, can God’s people do valiantly (Psa 60:12). He provides His people with strength and courage to fight the enemies. This statement demonstrates trust in God in the awareness of one’s own powerlessness. If He is with them, they will tread down their adversaries, which is to say that God treads them down (cf. Rom 16:20a).