Did you ever feel like you were losing even when you were winning? David felt that way at times, too. In this psalm, he expresses this confusing feeling of loss even in the midst of victory. Join us for a look into this phenomenon and why it occurs.
To the choirmaster: according to Shushan-Edut.
A Miktam of David; for teaching;
when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when
Joab on his return struck down 12,000 of Edom in the Valley of Salt.
1-4 O God, You have rejected us, broken our defenses; You have been angry; oh, restore us. 2 You have made the land to quake; You have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. 3 You have made Your people see hard things; You have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. 4 You have set up a banner/test for those who fear You, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah
נס (neis) = “banner” / “miracle” / “elevate”
קשט (koshet) = “bow” / “truth”
5-8 That Your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by Your right hand and answer us! 6 God has spoken in His holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth. 7 Gilead is Mine; Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim is My helmet; Judah is My scepter. 8 Moab is My washbasin; upon Edom I cast My shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
9-12 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10 Have You not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies. 11 Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! 12 With God we shall do valiantly; it is He who will tread down our foes.
REFERENCES:
Superscription
Psalm 106:15 And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
Verse 4
Proverbs 22:20-21 Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, to make you know the certainty of the words of truth (קשט, koshet) that you may correctly answer to him who sent you?
Misc. Translations of verse 4
You have set up a banner for those who fear You, that they may flee to it from the bow. (ESV)
Thou hast given a banner to those who fear Thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. (NAS)
You have given a banner to those fearing You for flight from the face of the bow. (CLT)
But You have given those who fear You a waving banner beyond bowshot. (Koren Tanach)
But You have raised a banner for those who fear You round which they may rally for the sake of truth. (Koren Tehillim)
But you have given a banner to them that fear You to raise themselves to its height before the might of truth. (R’ S.R. Hirsch)
Epilogue
Psalm 106:15 Then He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.
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