You Have Given a Banner to Those Who Fear You

Psalm 60 is a national psalm born of a hard war. The heading tells of David's battles against Aram Naharaim and Aram Tzovah, and of Joab striking Edom in the Valley of Salt. Yet from within the military victory rises the opposite feeling: the people feel abandoned. "O God, You have rejected us," David cries — the land has quaked and split, and the people have drunk a "wine of staggering." Then comes the great turn: "You have given a banner to those who fear You." Out of the lament grows hope, and out of the hope rises a prayer: "Save with Your right hand and answer me."

This is a "Michtam of David" — the last in the series of Michtam psalms (56-60) — and its heading adds "to teach": a psalm meant to be learned by the whole people. Part 1 (verses 1-7) leads from defeat and quaking to the rising banner and the cry for salvation. The melody, a joyful rhythmic Jewish dabke, turns this road into a dance of faith.

The central verse of this part, chosen as the title of the song, is:

"You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah."

"A banner" is a flag raised high so everyone can see it; "displayed" means waving in the wind; "the truth" is what is true and right. Even in the hardest moments, God gave those who fear Him a banner — a visible sign to gather around. The banner does not hide the hardship; it waves right out of it.

This song is part of the larger journey of the project: with God's help, to compose and sing the entire Book of Psalms in a diverse, emotional, Jewish, and uplifting musical language.