Psalm 60

1God, you have rejected us. You have broken us down. You have been angry. Restore us, again. 2You have made the land tremble. You have torn it. Mend its fractures, for it quakes. 3You have shown your people hard things. You have made us drink the wine that makes us stagger. 4You have given a banner to those who fear you, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah. 5So that your beloved may be delivered, save with your right hand, and answer us. 6God has spoken from his sanctuary: “I will triumph. I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth. 7Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine. Ephraim also is the defense of my head. Judah is my scepter. 8Moab is my wash basin. I will throw my sandal on Edom. I shout in triumph over Philistia.” 9Who will bring me into the strong city? Who has led me to Edom? 10Haven’t you, God, rejected us? You don’t go out with our armies, God. 11Give us help against the adversary, for the help of man is vain. 12Through God we will do valiantly, for it is he who will tread down our adversaries.

After many psalms which David penned in a day of distress this comes which was calculated for a day of triumph; it was penned after he was settled in the throne, upon occasion of an illustrious victory which God blessed his forces with over the Syrians and Edomites; it was when David was in the zenith of his prosperity, and the affairs of his kingdom seem to have been in a better posture then ever they were either before or after. See Sa2 8:3, Sa2 8:13; Ch1 18:3, Ch1 18:12. David, in prosperity, was as devout as David in adversity. In this psalm, I. He reflects upon the bad state of the public interests, for many years, in which God had been contending with them (Psa 60:1-3). II. He takes notice of the happy turn lately given to their affairs (Psa 60:4). III. He prays for the deliverance of God's Israel from their enemies (Psa 60:5). IV. He triumphs in hope of their victories over their enemies, and begs of God to carry them on and complete them (Psa 60:6-12). In singing this psalm we may have an eye both to the acts of the church and to the state of our own souls, both which have their struggles.

To the chief musician upon Shushan-eduth, Michtam of David, to teach, when he strove with Aram-naharaim, and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt 12,000.

Cross-references: 2Sam 8:3 · 2Sam 8:13 · 1Chr 18:3 · 1Chr 18:12 · Ps 60:1 · Ps 60:4 · Ps 60:5 · Ps 60:6

Introduction