Bible Commentaries
Psalms 60

Verses 1-12

Psalms 60:1 . Oh God thou hast cast us off; or interrogatively, Why hast thou cast us off? At this juncture all the surrounding nations, named here, in the eighty third psalm, and in 2 Samuel 8:0., seem at once to rise up against David, being alarmed at his military fame and prosperity.

Psalms 60:2 . Thou hast made the earth to tremble, hast shaken all the surrounding nations that entered into a league against thy people; a figure of ancient speech designating the convulsions of war.

Psalms 60:3 . Thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. From this phrase, and from the opening of the psalm, it would appear that the rebels had obtained the first victory, See on 2 Samuel 8:0.

REFLECTIONS.

This psalm was evidently composed when David was almost surrounded with new wars, and when he knew not what the issues would be. These wars were the more painful, as he was then thinking of building a temple for the Lord. He prays God not to cast off Israel, by the breach which Edom had occasioned, for they had here, it would seem, a vast army to support them.

David, after pouring out his soul in great humility, discovers great faith in God, who had given him a banner or standard, well supported by men. Ephraim mustered strong about it, and were the strength of his head. Judah filled the benches of justice; for thrones of justice were placed for David’s relatives in the temple. Psalms 122:5. Therefore, after the figurative language of his age, he says that he would wash his feet in the pots of Moab, and cast his shoe over Edom, which implied their reduction to a menial condition. 2 Samuel 8:2. Philistia was elevated with joy at the breaking out of the war with Edom, and he ironically bids her enjoy the triumph, which should be of short duration; for God would bring him into Bozrah, the strong city and the capital of his enemies, which was situate on a rock, Obadiah 1:3, and he would mete out their country with a line. So the believer shall have the victory over all his inward corruptions, and the church over all her outward foes.