A psalm[a] of David useful for teaching, regarding the time David fought Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and killed 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. To be sung to the tune “Lily of the Testimony.”

O God, You have rejected us and we are broken down
Restore us to Your favor, Lord, remove the angry frown
You caused the earth to quake and split, repair the breaches now
Your people stagger and collapse with troubles You allow.

We raise the banner that You gave to those who fear Your name
In love and truth, by Your right hand, You’ll rescue us from shame
God, in His temple, has declared, “Behold, the land is Mine
Each tribe will have its portion there, I’ll draw the bound’ry line.

“I’ll make My helmet Ephraim, from Judah will rise kings
But Moab is My washpot and o’er Edom My shoe flings
The armies of Philistia will shout because of Me
My people, don’t lose heart but know, I will bring victory.”

But who will help us penetrate this city with its walls
And lead our troops to Edom, fighting hard until she falls?
It seems You have rejected us and with us do not fight
Without Your help our hope is lost, do You not see our plight?

You know that when it comes to war mere human help is vain
But with God’s help we’ll overcome, the victory attain
Yes, through our God success is sure, we will fight valiantly
And by His mighty pow’r at work will trample enemies.

© 2014 J Dan Small