“God is in charge of everything.” That’s what we Presbyterians believe, and God’s sovereignty is a marvelous source of reassurance – most of the time. But what do you do when success isn’t coming your way? If God is in charge of everything, and your plans aren’t working out, does that mean that God is somehow working against you?

That’s what David wondered during his campaign against the Edomites, the descendants of Jacob’s brother Esau, who lived southeast of the Dead Sea. As David faced military setbacks, he felt that God had “rejected” and “broken” his army (verses 1 and 10). Doubling down on his belief in God’s sovereignty, he went so far as to say that God Himself was the One Who made His people “experience hardship” (verse 3).

And David’s confusion only increased when he remembered the extravagant promises that God had made, promises to extend His authority not only over Ephraim, Manasseh, and Judah – the people of God – but also over Moab and Edom and Philistia, Israel’s unbelieving neighbors (verse 8). So, how long would David have to wait for God to keep His promises?

David didn’t know, and God didn’t tell him. But instead of allowing his disappointment to weaken his faith in God’s sovereignty, David simply increased his pleas to the only One he knew could give him victory. Knowing that “deliverance by man is in vain,” (verse 11), David begged God, “Save with Thy right hand, and answer us” (verse 5)! Yes, David’s difficulties only served to make him more sure that it was his sovereign God Who alone was able to help him fight against his adversaries (verse 11).

And the same thing is true for God’s people today. For God has given all those who fear Him a banner of truth to be displayed to all the nations (verse 4), the gospel of the Lord Jesus. And no matter how powerful opposition to the authority of Christ may seem to grow, and no matter how long we must wait for Jesus to bring perfect justice to the world, we can be sure that He will tread down His adversaries someday (verse 12).

So let us remain faithful to Him, trusting in His promises, even as we wait for Him to keep them. Let us trust Him to enable us to be valiant in His service (verse 12), no matter how fearsome our foes may be. For to God, they are no more awe-inspiring than washpots, and no more impressive than footstools (verse 8).

Psalm 60 (NASB)

For the choir director; according to Shushan Eduth. A Mikhtam of David, to teach; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and Joab returned, and smote twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.
O God, Thou hast rejected us. Thou hast broken us; Thou hast been angry; O, restore us.
2 Thou hast made the land quake, Thou hast split it open; Heal its breaches, for it totters.
3 Thou hast made Thy people experience hardship; Thou hast given us wine to drink that makes us stagger.
4 Thou hast given a banner to those who fear Thee, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
5 That Thy beloved may be delivered, Save with Thy right hand, and answer us!
6 God has spoken in His holiness: “I will exult, I will portion out Shechem and measure out the valley of Succoth.
7 “Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim also is the helmet of My head; Judah is My scepter.
8 “Moab is My washbowl; Over Edom I shall throw My shoe; Shout loud, O Philistia, because of Me!”
9 Who will bring me into the besieged city? Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Hast not Thou Thyself, O God, rejected us? And wilt Thou not go forth with our armies, O God?
11 O give us help against the adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain.
12 Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries.