washbasin and sandal

Psalm 60:6-8 (JDV)

Psalm 60:6 God has spoken in his sanctuary: “I will celebrate! I will divide up Shechem. I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.
Psalm 60:7 Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine, and Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter.
Psalm 60:8 Moab is my washbasin. I throw my sandal on Edom; I shout in triumph over Philistia.”

washbasin and sandal

In this psalm, God celebrates the victory of his people over the nations they will conquer for him.

Our mission as Christians is not to conquer nations in this way, but to lead them to the Savior. But the same kind of thing is going on in God’s sanctuary as we speak. He has already claimed those nations that he sends us to. They are his washbasin, he claims ownership and authority over them by throwing his sandal on them.

When I was sent to the mission field, I had no doubt that lives would be changed as a result of my ministry, and that the kingdom of God would advance. It had nothing toi do with confidence in my ability. It had everything to do with my being sent by a sovereign God, who had already claimed the territory he sent me to.

Lord, thank you for knowing that you have already claimed those for yourself that you send us to.