Psalms 60:5
That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us!
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just a simple plea for help; it reveals that God's "beloved" are the very reason for the prayer, highlighting that God's love is the ultimate motivation for His deliverance. The plea to be "answered" isn't just for a favorable outcome, but for God's direct intervention, like a personal response to His cherished ones.
The psalm begins with a lament, describing a nation defeated and scattered, feeling abandoned by God. This leads into a plea for God's intervention, expressing hope that God's favor will lead to deliverance for His beloved people. The subsequent verses then shift to an oracle from God, assuring victory and possession of the land, which then inspires renewed confidence for future endeavors.
Who are the 'beloved ones' the psalmist prays for? It's more than just a general term for God's people.
The psalm refers to Israel as God's 'beloved ones.' This isn't just a casual endearment; it points to a deep, foundational relationship rooted in God's sovereign choice and unwavering love.
A Covenant Love
God's love for Israel was not based on their merit, but on His own electing grace. They were chosen, set apart, and declared as His own.
The Basis for Petition
Because they are His beloved, the psalmist feels confident in bringing their desperate situation before God. God's love makes their deliverance not just a wish, but a righteous expectation.
What does it mean to be 'saved with Your right hand'?
The 'right hand' in Scripture often symbolizes power, authority, and direct action. When the psalmist asks God to save with His right hand, he's calling for a powerful, decisive intervention.
Divine Strength, Not Human Effort
This isn't a plea for gradual improvement or human strategy alone. It's a recognition that ultimate deliverance comes from God's mighty power. His right hand represents His strength to overcome enemies, grant victory, and secure salvation.
The Source of Victory
In ancient Near Eastern culture, the right hand was where the sword or spear was held – the hand of the warrior. The psalmist is invoking God as the supreme warrior, capable of achieving victory that human armies could not.
Why does the psalmist add 'and answer me' to his plea?
The psalm concludes with a direct petition: 'and answer me.' This isn't just a hopeful wish; it’s the climax of the prayer, seeking God’s definitive response.
Understand the original words
yadiyd · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who are the object of God’s special affection, covenant commitment, and covenantal love; it denotes a chosen, intimate relationship with the Creator.
yeshuw'ah · Hebrew Noun
The overarching concept of deliverance, victory, or rescue provided by God, signifying His intervention to save His people from enemies, distress, or judgment.
yamiyn · Hebrew Noun
A symbol of active strength, power, authority, and effective action; in Scripture, it often refers to God’s sovereign ability to execute His will and protect His own.
This psalm likely reflects a period of military struggle and partial defeat, possibly during David's campaigns against Edom. The prayer for deliverance and salvation by God's right hand points to a desperate need for divine intervention amidst national peril, highlighting the deep reliance on God even when facing setbacks.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David's Wars Against Edom
Following his consolidation of the united monarchy, King David waged wars against surrounding nations, including Edom, as recorded in 2 Samuel 8. This period likely saw David's forces, under Joab, engage and subjugate the Edomites.
c. 975 BC
Reign of Solomon
David's son, Solomon, inherited a stable kingdom and continued to exert influence over former territories, including Edom, where he established trading posts and fortifications.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
After Solomon's death, the united monarchy split into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This division significantly altered political and military dynamics in the region.
c. 840 BC
Mesha Stele Records
The Mesha Stele, from the Moabite king Mesha, details Moabite victories against Israel and Judah, indicating a period of regional conflict and shifting power balances.
This passage describes God's powerful and victorious 'right hand' in action, echoing the prayer for salvation by God's right hand in Psalm 60:5.
2 Samuel 8:14This verse shows David establishing God's deliverance and dominion over surrounding nations, a practical outworking of the hope for deliverance expressed in Psalm 60:5.
John 3:16This verse highlights God's deep love for 'his beloved' (through Jesus), providing a theological foundation for the prayer that God's beloved might be delivered.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29This passage explains that God chooses the weak and humble to shame the strong, underscoring that salvation and victory ultimately come through God's power ('his right hand'), not human might.
gillPsalms 60:5: "That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me."
That thy beloved may be delivered,.... Some think that these words express the effect or end of the banner being displayed; but because of the word "Selah" at the end of Psalm 60:4 , which makes so full a stop; rather they are to be considered in construction with the following clause. By the Lord's "beloved" ones are meant, not so much the people of Israel, who were loved and chosen by the Lord above all p…
pulpitPsalms 60:5: "That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me."
Verse 5. - That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me; rather, hear us. From complaint (vers. 1-4) the psalmist abruptly turns to prayer, thus closing the first strophe with a gleam of hope.
This verse isn't just a simple plea for help; it reveals that God's "beloved" are the very reason for the prayer, highlighting that God's love is the ultimate motivation for His deliverance. The plea to be "answered" isn't just for a favorable outcome, but for God's direct intervention, like a personal response to His cherished ones.
The psalm begins with a lament, describing a nation defeated and scattered, feeling abandoned by God. This leads into a plea for God's intervention, expressing hope that God's favor will lead to deliverance for His beloved people. The subsequent verses then shift to an oracle from God, assuring victory and possession of the land, which then inspires renewed confidence for future endeavors.
The psalm begins with a lament, describing a nation defeated and scattered, feeling abandoned by God. This leads into a plea for God's intervention, expressing hope that God's favor will lead to deliverance for His beloved people. The subsequent verses then shift to an oracle from God, assuring victory and possession of the land, which then inspires renewed confidence for future endeavors.
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From Petition to Assurance
While the previous parts of the verse ask for deliverance and salvation, this final phrase seeks confirmation. It’s the cry for God to hear and act, turning the prayer into a confident expectation of a divine reply.
The End Goal: God's Response
The ultimate desire isn't just victory, but an answer from God that validates His power and reaffirms His relationship with His beloved. It’s the assurance that God is present, listening, and ready to act on behalf of His people.
c. 732 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Northern Israel
The Neo-Assyrian Empire began its expansion, leading to the conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and significant deportations, impacting the broader geopolitical landscape.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Conquest of Judah
The Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, and exiled many of its people, marking a catastrophic turning point.
"That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us!" — This verse isn't just a simple plea for help; it reveals that God's "beloved" are the very reason for the prayer, highlighting that God's love is the ultimate motivation for His deliverance. The plea…
