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A Prayer After a Defeat

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lily of the ·Agreement [Testimony].” A miktam [C perhaps “inscription”] of David. For teaching. When David fought the Arameans of ·northwest Mesopotamia [Naharaim; L the Two Rivers] and Zobah, and when Joab returned and ·defeated [L struck] twelve thousand ·Edomites at the Valley of Salt [2 Sam. 8; 1 Chr. 18].

60 God, you have rejected us and ·scattered us [broken us down; burst forth on us].
    You have been angry, but please ·come back to [restore] us.
You made the earth shake and ·crack [split open].
    Heal its ·breaks [cracks; fractures] because it ·is shaking [totters].
You have ·given your people [L made your people see] ·trouble [hardship].
    You made us ·unable to walk straight, like people drunk with wine [L drink wine that makes us reel; C the cup of God’s wrath; Jer. 25:15–29; Nah. 3:11; Matt. 26:39].
You have raised a banner to gather those who fear you.
    Now they can ·stand up against the enemy [L escape/flee from the bow]. ·Selah [Interlude]

Answer us and ·save us [give us victory] by your ·power [L hand]
so ·the people you love [your beloved] will be rescued.

God has said ·from his Temple [from his Holy Place; or in his holiness],
    “·When I win [or With joy], I will ·divide [parcel up] Shechem
    and measure off the Valley of Succoth [Gen. 33:17–20].
Gilead and Manasseh are mine.
    Ephraim is like my helmet.
    Judah holds my royal scepter [Gen. 49:10; C they are agents of God’s power].
Moab is like my washbowl.
    I throw my sandals at Edom [C showing contempt].
I shout [C in triumph] at Philistia [C enemies of Israel].”

Who will bring me to the ·strong, walled [fortified] city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
10 God, ·surely you have rejected [L have you not rejected…?] us;
    you do not go out with our armies.
11 ·Help us fight the enemy [L Give us help against the foe].
    Human ·help [deliverance] is useless,
12 but we can ·win [fight bravely] with God’s help.
    He will ·defeat [tread on] our ·enemies [foes].

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