Pastor Lowell Nelson teaches through Psalms 60-64 "The Theology of The Cycle of Struggles" on 3/11/2026 for our Wednesday service.
Psalm 60: The Purpose of Struggles God allows challenges in our lives to reveal a vital truth: there is no true security apart from Him. Verse 4 mentions "the banner"—this is our rallying point. When life gets difficult, our first response should be to run to God.
Psalm 61: Seeking and Supplication In the midst of hardship, the soul’s natural and necessary response is to cry out to the Lord. It is a season of deep prayer and seeking His face.
Psalm 62: The Solo Satisfaction of His Shelter This Psalm emphasizes a powerful theme: Only God. It repeats this truth over and over, reminding us that we can find complete satisfaction and total security in Him alone.
Psalm 63: The Savor of Spiritual Satisfaction This is a beautiful picture of deep, intimate communion with God. It explores the richness of being spiritually satisfied by His presence.
Psalm 64: The Secured Victory Focusing on verses 7-10, we see the ultimate conclusion of our trust. We don't have to fight for the win; God is the one who secures the victory for us.
Psalm 60 - 64
He Will Tread Down Our Foes
1 O GOD, You have cast us off;
You have broken us down;
You have been displeased;
Oh, restore us again! 2 You have made the earth tremble;
You have broken it;
Heal its breaches, for it is shaking. 3 You have shown Your people hard things;
You have made us drink the wine of confusion.
4 You have given a banner to those who fear You,
That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah 5 That Your beloved may be delivered,
Save with Your right hand, and hear me.
6 God has spoken in His holiness:
"I will rejoice;
I will divide Shechem
And measure out the Valley of Succoth. 7 Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine;
Ephraim also is the helmet for My head;
Judah is My lawgiver. 8 Moab is My washpot;
Over Edom I will cast My shoe;
Philistia, shout in triumph because of Me."
9 Who will bring me to the strong city?
Who will lead me to Edom? 10 Is it not You, O God, who cast us off?
And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies? 11 Give us help from trouble,
For the help of man is useless. 12 Through God we will do valiantly,
For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.
Psalms 61
Lead Me to the Rock
1 Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah 5 For You, O God, have heard my vows;
You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name.
6 You will prolong the king's life,
His years as many generations. 7 He shall abide before God forever.
Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him!
8 So I will sing praise to Your name forever,
That I may daily perform my vows.
Psalms 62
My Soul Waits for God Alone
1 Truly my soul silently waits for God;
From Him comes my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be greatly moved.
3 How long will you attack a man?
You shall be slain, all of you,
Like a leaning wall and a tottering fence. 4 They only consult to cast him down from his high position;
They delight in lies;
They bless with their mouth,
But they curse inwardly. Selah
5 My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved. 7 In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah
9 Surely men of low degree are a vapor,
Men of high degree are a lie;
If they are weighed on the scales,
They are altogether lighter than vapor. 10 Do not trust in oppression,
Nor vainly hope in robbery;
If riches increase,
Do not set your heart on them.
11 God has spoken once,
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God. 12 Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy;
For You render to each one according to his work.
Psalms 63
My Soul Thirsts for You
1 O GOD, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water. 2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You. 4 Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. 6 When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches. 7 Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. 8 My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand upholds me.
9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it,
Shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10 They shall fall by the sword;
They shall be a portion for jackals. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him shall glory;
But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.
Psalms 64
Hide Me from the Wicked
1 Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation;
Preserve my life from fear of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
From the rebellion of the workers of iniquity, 3 Who sharpen their tongue like a sword,
And bend their bows to shoot their arrows - bitter words, 4 That they may shoot in secret at the blameless;
Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear. 5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter;
They talk of laying snares secretly;
They say, "Who will see them?" 6 They devise iniquities:
"We have perfected a shrewd scheme."
Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.
7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow;
Suddenly they shall be wounded. 8 So He will make them stumble over their own tongue;
All who see them shall flee away. 9 All men shall fear,
And shall declare the work of God;
For they shall wisely consider His doing.
10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and trust in Him.
And all the upright in heart shall glory.
