Psalms 60

¹To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand. O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.

²Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.

³Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.

Psa 60:1-12. Shushan-eduth--Lily of testimony. The lily is an emblem of beauty (see on Psa 45:1, title). As a description of the Psalm, those terms combined may denote a beautiful poem, witnessing--that is, for God’s faithfulness as evinced in the victories referred to in the history cited. Aram-naharaim--Syria of the two rivers, or Mesopotamia beyond the river (Euphrates) (2Sa 10:16). Aram-zobah--Syria of Zobah (2Sa 10:6), to whose king the king of the former was tributary. The war with Edom, by Joab and Abishai (2Ch 18:12, 25), occurred about the same time. Probably, while doubts and fears alternately prevailed respecting the issue of these wars, the writer composed this Psalm, in which he depicts, in the language of God’s people, their sorrows under former disasters, offers prayer in present straits, and rejoices in confident hope of triumph by God’s aid. 1-3. allude to disasters. cast ... off--in scorn (Psa 43:2; 44:9). scattered--broken our strength (compare 2Sa 5:20). Oh, turn thyself--or, “restore to us” (prosperity).

The figures of physical, denote great civil, commotions (Psa 46:2, 3).

⁴Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

⁵That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.

4-5. Yet to God’s banner they will rally, and pray that, led and sustained by His power (right hand, Psa 17:7; 20:6), they may be safe.

⁶God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

⁷Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;

⁸Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.

⁹Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?

¹⁰Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?

6-10. God hath spoken in--or, “by.” his holiness--(Psa 89:35; Am 4:2), on the pledge of His attributes (Psa 22:3; 30:4). Taking courage from God’s promise to give them possession (Ex 23:31; De 11:24) (and perhaps renewed to him by special revelation), with triumphant joy he describes the conquest as already made. Shechem, and ... Succoth--as widely separated points, and--

¹¹Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

¹²Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

11-12. Hence he closes with a prayer for success, and an assurance of a hearing.