Victory with God (2 Samuel 8:1–14; 1 Chronicles 18:1–13; Psalm 108:1–13)
1 UST God, you have stopped helping us Israelites! Because you have become angry with us, our enemies have been able to break through our ranks. Please enable us to fight victoriously again! BSB BSB: For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A Miktam of David for instruction. When he fought Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. You have rejected us, O God; You have broken us; You have been angry; restore us!
2 UST It is as if you have caused a great earthquake that has split open the ground. Our army is struggling, but please make it strong again. BSB BSB: You have shaken the land and torn it open. Heal its fractures, for it is quaking.
3 UST You have caused us Israelites to experience great difficulties. It is as if you have made us drink strong wine that is making us fall down as if we were drunk. BSB BSB: You have shown Your people hardship; we are staggered from the wine You made us drink.
4 UST But you have raised a battle flag for those who honor you. They can rally around it when their enemies attack them. Selah BSB BSB: You have raised a banner for those who fear You, that they may flee the bow. Selah
5 UST That way you will rescue the people whom you love. Please answer my prayer and use your power to save us. BSB BSB: Respond and save us with Your right hand, that Your beloved may be delivered.
6 UST God is holy{ and does not lie}, and he has said,“I delight in the territory that I have measured and divided up for you Israelites to live in. That territory includes land on the east side of the Jordan River, where the Valley of Succoth is, and land on the west side of the Jordan River, where Shechem is. BSB BSB: God has spoken from His sanctuary: “I will triumph! I will parcel out Shechem and apportion the Valley of Succoth.
7 UST I own the region of Gilead{ east of the Jordan River}, and I own the territory of Manasseh{ west of the Jordan River}. The mighty soldiers of the tribe of Ephraim{ who fight to protect Israel} are like my helmet, and I have given Israel a ruler from the tribe of Judah. BSB BSB: Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim is My helmet, Judah is My scepter.
8 UST The Moabites are my servants, like slaves who wash my feet. I own the land of Edom; it is as if I have thrown my sandal onto it to show that it belongs to me. And you Philistines might shout your battle cry against me{, but I will defeat you}.” BSB BSB: Moab is My washbasin; upon Edom I toss My sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
9 UST But I still need someone to lead my army to the land of Edom and conquer their{ capital} city that has strong walls around it. BSB BSB: Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?
10 UST It seems that you, God, have stopped helping us Israelites. It seems that you do not enable our armies to defeat our enemies when they march out to fight them. BSB BSB: Have You not rejected us, O God? Will You no longer march out, O God, with our armies?
11 UST Any help that human beings could give us would not be at all sufficient. So we need you to help us to defeat our enemies. BSB BSB: Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.
12 UST If you, God, help us defeat our enemies, then we will be able to fight very valiantly. BSB BSB: With God we will perform with valor, and He will trample our enemies.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.