To the Chief Musician. Set to “Lily of the Testimony.” A Michtam of David. For teaching. When he fought against Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah, and Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. (Psalm 60)
As the opening says, this psalm was inspired by many of the battles that David fought on behalf of the people of Israel as king. Throughout the narratives dedicated to the life of David, it is obvious that he was a man skilled in the art of war. At the same time, it is equally obvious that he had a tender heart and sensitive nature; in short, he was not a belligerent man. To the contrary, he was a shepherd who first learned to watch over those under his care. At times that meant he had to go to war against lions, bears and other predators. But that was only when it was necessary to protect the sheep who were dependent upon him.
As king of Israel, his flock was more numerous and of greater value; he was charged with keeping watch over God’s people, the very ones called to be a light to other nations. And so it can be truthfully argued that David the warrior fought battles to establish the righteous order that God had ordained for all the nations. If Israel was to be a light to all, attaining that goal required those nations to acknowledge the One, True God. So when those nations, like Syria and Edom, tried to intimidate and encroach upon the sheep of God’s pasture, the shepherd king went to war.
Under his care, Israel was to be a glorious witness to the existence and sovereignty of Israel’s God, and at the same time, reveal to the pagans the futility of serving idols and inanimate gods. So it could be said that, in reality, David was an ambassador of peace who desired to see the establishment of true universal order, made possible only when all nations acknowledge the rule of the One and Only God.
Of course, all of this is prophetic; David was a precursor of the coming Messiah, the Son of David. As the Good Shepherd, Yeshua was sent to watch over and care for the sheep of God’s pasture and to gather those who had been scattered. For two thousand years, that process has been unfolding, and as we quickly approach the culmination of this era, the nations are, once again, attempting to intimidate and encroach upon His flock. So when He returns, the Good Shepherd will be compelled to war against them as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. In the end, all nations — including Syria and Edom — will bow before Him and acknowledge that He is the King of kings and the Lord over all the earth. In that day, David’s dream for his people will be a reality; Israel will be a shining light among the nations when her King reigns from Jerusalem. What a glorious day that will be!
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
HalleluYah!