Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What might sound like a statement of despair is actually a bold rhetorical question implying God will act. The psalmist isn't saying God has rejected them permanently, but rather, "Don't you see, God, that it's you, the one who seemed to cast us off before, who must be the one to go forth with us now?" This highlights a profound trust, as their hope rests on God’s past actions, not their present circumstances.
Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalm begins with a lament over a military defeat and the loss of territory to enemies, like Edom. The poet then questions God's continued favor, asking if He has truly abandoned them and won't march with their armies anymore. Despite this apparent withdrawal, the psalm pivots to a confident declaration of God's ability to grant victory and subdue enemies, seeing His promises as a guarantee of future triumph.
Ever felt like God is silent when you need Him most? This verse wrestles with that raw feeling.
The psalmist is crying out, 'God, have you completely abandoned us? You didn't fight with our armies!' This isn't just a complaint; it's an honest expression of disorientation when God's presence feels withdrawn. It's easy to question God's faithfulness when circumstances are dire, and victory seems far off. But even in this questioning, there's a flicker of hope. The psalmist is still talking to God, indicating that even in confusion, God remains the ultimate object of their trust and the only source of help.
Even when it looks like all is lost, there's a deeper trust at play. What does this look like?
The commentary highlights a crucial point: this lament isn't the end of the story. While the psalmist acknowledges God's seeming absence ('cast us off,' 'did not go forth'), the surrounding verses (and the nature of Psalms itself) point toward eventual deliverance and renewed trust. The apparent rejection is seen as a temporary state, not a final verdict. The psalmist is reminding themselves (and us) that God's past faithfulness and future promises are the bedrock of hope, even when present circumstances scream defeat. This situation is used to magnify God's eventual victory and power.
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zanach · Hebrew Verb
To cast away, refuse, or treat as despised. Theologically, it describes a sense of being abandoned or forsaken by God’s presence and favor due to sin or judgment.
This psalm reflects a deep spiritual struggle, likely during a time of military conflict or its aftermath. The poignant question, 'Have you not rejected us?' speaks to the painful experience of feeling abandoned by God in times of national crisis, a feeling echoed by Israel's historical experiences of defeat and exile.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David's victories in Edom and surrounding regions
The Psalmist, likely King David, reflects on recent military successes against surrounding nations, including Edom, but also acknowledges periods of divine withdrawal and national distress that preceded these victories.
c. 931 BC
Division of the United Monarchy
Following the death of Solomon, the unified kingdom of Israel splits into the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah), leading to centuries of internal conflict and vulnerability.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling its people and effectively ending its existence as a distinct entity. This event deeply impacted Judah's sense of national identity and security.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling a significant portion of the population. This marked a profound spiritual and national crisis, a time when God's presence seemed absent.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great of Persia allows the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marked a return of hope, though the nation faced ongoing political challenges and rebuilding efforts.
This passage shares the same sentiment, directly stating 'But you have rejected and humbled us... you do not go out with our armies.'
Isaiah 64:7This verse echoes the feeling of abandonment and the people's plea for God to intervene when they feel He has 'given us up into the hand of our enemies'.
Judges 10:11-14This narrative shows God's people crying out to Him in distress after He had 'rejected' them, highlighting the pattern of turning away and then seeking God in times of crisis.
Jeremiah 2:37This prophetic passage expresses a similar despair, stating 'You will also go out from there with your hands on your head, for the Lord has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper with them.'
pulpitPsalms 60:10: "Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?"
Verse 10. - Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? rather, Hast not thou, O God, cast us off? Can we expect thee to lead us, when thou hast so lately cast us off, and, as we hear it said on all sides, dost not go out with our armies? A reference, perhaps, to Psalm 44:9.
gillPsalms 60:10: "Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?"
Wilt not thou, O God?.... This is an answer to the question, and is made by putting another, which tacitly contains in it an affirmation that God would do it. He has foretold the destruction of the Romish antichrist; he has said it shall be: he is faithful to his purposes, predictions, and promises; he is able to effect it; strong is the Lord that judgeth Babylon, Revelation 1…
What might sound like a statement of despair is actually a bold rhetorical question implying God will act. The psalmist isn't saying God has rejected them permanently, but rather, "Don't you see, God, that it's you, the one who seemed to cast us off before, who must be the one to go forth with us now?" This highlights a profound trust, as their hope rests on God’s past actions, not their present circumstances.
The psalm begins with a lament over a military defeat and the loss of territory to enemies, like Edom. The poet then questions God's continued favor, asking if He has truly abandoned them and won't march with their armies anymore. Despite this apparent withdrawal, the psalm pivots to a confident declaration of God's ability to grant victory and subdue enemies, seeing His promises as a guarantee of future triumph.
The psalm begins with a lament over a military defeat and the loss of territory to enemies, like Edom. The poet then questions God's continued favor, asking if He has truly abandoned them and won't march with their armies anymore. Despite this apparent withdrawal, the psalm pivots to a confident declaration of God's ability to grant victory and subdue enemies, seeing His promises as a guarantee of future triumph.
"Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies." — What might sound like a statement of despair is actually a bold rhetorical question implying God will act. The psalmist isn't saying God has rejected them permanently, but rather, "Don't you see,…
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Last reviewed October 2026