The Book of Psalms
Psalm 60
Psalm LX · Vol. II, p. 1025
1 David, complaining to God of former judgments, 4 now, upon better hope, prayeth for deliverance. 6 Comforting himself in God's promises, he craveth that help whereon he trusteth.
To the chief musician aupon Shushan-eduth, Michtam1 of David, to teach; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah,2 when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the Valley of Salt twelve thousand.
1 O God, bthou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered3 us, thou hast been displeased; Oc turn thyself to us again.
B.C. cir. 1037.
a Ps.80. title.
1 Or, A golden psalm.
2 The Syrians beyond the river Euphrates, and the Syrians of Zobah, 2 Sa.8.3-14; 10.16. 1 Ch.18.3-13.
3 Heb. broken.
c La.3.31,32. Zec.10.6. Ps.80.1-3,7,14,19; 79.8-11; 74.3,19,21; 44.23-26.
2 Thoud hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.
A.M. cir. 2967. B.C. cir. 1037.
d 1 Sa.14.15. Hag.2.7. 2 Ch.7.14. Is.30.30. Je.30.17.
3 Thoue hast showed thy people hard things; thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.4
e Ps.71.20; 75.8. Is.51.17,22. Je.25.15. De.28.28. Ro.11.7,8.
4 The legitimate use of wine is for revival of him who, through faintness and deep sorrow is ready to perish Pr.31.6, but no cordial is administered to the weary Jew, but what produces astonishment or rather confusion of vision and of spirit.—C.
4 Thoug hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.5
5 Thath thy beloved may be delivered, save with thy right hand, and hear me.
h Ps.108.6,13; 20.6. 2 Co.1.10. Is.63.1-5.
6 Godi hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice: I jwill divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
j 2 Sa.5.1-3. 1 Ch.xii. with 2 Sa.2.8,9.
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the kstrength of mine head; Judah is my llawgiver;
l Ge.49.8-10. Ps.122.5.
8 Moab is my nwashpot; over oEdom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of 6me.7
n 2 Sa.8.2. 1 Ch.18.13.
o Ru.4.7. 2 Sa.8.14. 1 Ch.18.13.
6 Or, triumph thou over me (by an irony), Ps.108.9. 2 Sa.5.18-25; 8.1; 21.15-22. Is.14.29.
7 The meaning is in plain terms:—Moab is already subdued. I can do with it what I please. Edom is not yet conquered; but I shall soon march against it and bring it under my power. Philistia, too, my ancient foe, will in due time submit to me. Its triumphant shout, so often raised on the discomfiture of my forefathers, shall now be heard for me (in my favour) when I appear among them a victor.—P.
10 Wilt not thou, O God, which phadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?
Notes
Ver. 1. Scattered. Though Israel and Judah were both led captive, they were never scattered among the nations (De. 28. 64) till after the crucifixion of our Lord. This psalm is therefore mainly a prophetic prayer prepared for the believing penitent Jews, when their heart shall turn to the Lord. C.
Ver. 5. Messiah, who is the 'truth,' ver. 4; Jn. 14. 6, here intercedes, because him 'the Father heareth always,' Jn. 11. 42, and prophesies the future allotment of the land to the children of the restoration, the emblem also of the spiritual endowment and temporal blessedness of the Gentile church. C.
Ver. 6. Shechem was the first place in Canaan where ground was purchased for the permanent erection of the altar El-elohe-Israel, Ge. 33. 19. It was also the place to which Joshua summoned the tribes, and where they ratified their covenant with God, Jos. 24. 1, 25. It was also a city of refuge, Jos. 20. 7. It literally signifies a portion. From which four particulars, the meaning of the promise may be fully gathered. C.
Ver. 8. Washpot, or basin; not a phrase of contempt, or sign of servility, but rather of tender friendship and hospitable entertainment, see Lu. 7. 44; Jn. 13. 14, 15.—Cast my shoe. This phrase some interpret of taking possession; others of servile subjugation: is it not rather a token of friendly visitation, and peaceful entering into all the dwellings of the land, according to the eastern custom of putting off the shoes at the entrance of a dwelling or chamber?—Philistia! land of hereditary enemies, triumph in my victory of love that has conquered thy enmity. C.
Ver. 11. Vain is the help of man. Hence we learn that the victory expected is not that which can be wrought by the power or wrath of man—and not a victory over the literal Moab, Edom, and Philistia, but a spiritual victory of truth and love over the enemies of Jesus, represented by those nations. C.
Reflections.—What terrible rejection of God, what fearful convulsions and miseries in nations and churches, are occasioned by sin! But the deeper our distresses are, the more is the power and grace of our God magnified in our deliverance. Not David raised to a throne, according to promise, but Jesus exalted to his Father's right hand, and manifested in the truth of the gospel, is our banner displayed,—our means of victory and deliverance: let us then look to him and be saved. If sin has made deadly breaches, the sovereign grace of God can repair them. If we turn to him in prayer we may expect his return in mercy to us. Having loved us freely his right hand can save us. Our deliverance may be delayed, but faith triumphs. While Jesus subdues his opposers in mercy, or destroys all opposition, let us gladly receive him, and every promised blessing of grace or glory will necessarily follow. It may often happen that our bitterest enemies become our friends. At his pleasure he can unite nations and churches. Whatever difficulties then stand in our way let faith overcome them. Though we seem cast off, let us cleave fast to the promise, and trust and wait for the salvation of God. The greater our danger, our cries and prayers ought to be the more earnest. Let us put no trust in human helps; but in God's name and strength encounter our spiritual enemies; and so shall our victory be sure.