Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 60
The lx. Psalm.
David takes occasion from complicate victories of ma…y enemies, to shew the people the different proceedings of God towards them now, to what was heretofore, then they were the miserablest of all people by reason of their sins and his judgements, and now through his grace and faithfulness are become the happiest and succesfullest, under him the type of Christ and his Church: And admonisheth them therefore to live by faith and to seek to God, promising in so doing they shall prosper and be victorious.
Psalm lx. To the chief musician upon Shushan Eduth Michtam of David, to teach, when he strove with Aram Naharaim, and with Aram Zobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt, twelve thousand.To him that is most skilfull upon the sweet instrument Shushan Eduth in this Psalm, made by David, committed to be plaid upon that instrument and sung to the speciall tune of Michtam, the scope whereof is to teach the Israelites in whom to trust, and from whom to expect their happiness, even from God and his faithfulness, because of his promises which he will now fulfill under his government, as his late victories over the Syrians and Edomites give good proof 2 Sam. 8.3.13. 1 Chron. 18.3. &c. Together with other experiences mentioned in this Psalm.
1O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased, O turn thy self to us again.1 O God, notwithstanding the peculiarity of interest, and relation betwixt us thy people and thee, yet hast thou for a long time suffered us to be oppressed and worsted by the heathen nations and people about us and within us, our sins were the cause why thou wast displeased at us, and didst so by us; but let it seem long enough to have been strange to us, now (Lord) have mercy on us, be reconciled and take part with us, as thou didst at first when thou broughtest us out of Egypt, and gavest us this land to possesse.
2Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof, for it shaketh.2 Fearfull concussions have been in this state, by reason of their sins and thy judgements, what invasions and inrodes of forreign enemies, what civil wars, fractions, and divisions amongst themselves, and what desolations hath befallen them by all these, so that for a long time miserable hath been their disorder and confusion, therefore pity this thine own people at last, and give them better times, for the nation hath been sore shaken, and thunder-strucken by thy judgements upon it, that if thou underprop it not now, it cannot stand nor remain any longer a people to thee.
3 Who though they are so,3Thou hast shewed thy people hard things, thou hast made them to drink the wine of astonishment. yet hast thou greatly afflicted them with many and grievous calamities, thy judgements & our miseries have been such, & have so staggered and astonished us, by reason of thy manifold promises of grace and felicity, that we have been put quite besides all faith and hope, and have not known what to think of thee or of our selves, nor what to do to gain thy favour, and recover our selves again into it.
4 But of thine own grace hast thou in this juncture of time,4Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee: that it may be displayed because of the truth, Selah. and desperate condition of ours set up thy standard, to rally thy people and their hopes again unto thee, even all that know and fear thee, thou hast given me to be the King over Israel, and by and under me wilt give them halcyon days, a flourishing state, & victory over their enemies, witness this against the Syrians besides many others, which is not for our deservings, but for thy truth and promise sake. Let it have the glory.
5 Lord,5That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me. go on to do me and thy people good, whom thou hast always professed speciall love to, that they may get heart again, and under me (as thy Church under Christ) be delivered from their enemies, to this end put forth thy power, give us victory, and hear the prayer of me thy servant in mine own and thy peoples behalfes still as there is cause.
6God hath spoken in his holiness, I will rejoyce: I will divide Shechem, & mete out the valley of Succoth.6 The holy God hath passed his promise, and pawned his faithfulness upon it that I shall be King over all Israel compleat, and have it peaceably in my possession, so that I am sure enough of it, for all mine undermining enemies, and though I have come hardly by it, yet I have it at last fulfilled which was promised me; What cause have I to rejoyce in this goodness, and faithfulness of God to me, thus to give me full dominion and absolute possession, and dispose of those very places and people, which stood it out so pertinaciously against me, and stuck so close to Ishbosheth, as well as of them that voluntarily submitted to me.
7Gilead is mine, & Manasseh is mine, Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my Law-giver.7 Yea, of all the tribes, and countries belonging to them, as well those afar off, as Gilead and Manasseh, as nearer hand, so that now I can pronounce them mine own as well as any other, the greatest and best peopled are as much mine as the least, Ephraim that is so populous, God hath brought it into mine obedience, which hath added much to me, and both it and all the rest are content to take Laws, and to be Governed by me that am of the tribe of Judah principall for Government, out of which Christ the King and Law-giver of his Church must come, even out of my loyns.
8Moab is my washpot, over Edom will I cast my shoe: Philistia triumph thou because of me.8 Yea, both of domesticks and forreigners, both of Israel and all her bordering heathenish neighbours and nations, that have been as thorns in her sides, hath God given me the dominion. The Moabites, whom I have absolutely subdued, those that I have left alive of them, I have destined to do the drudgery and basest offices of me and my people, and will make them glad to do so, and Edom I have and will bring under my feet and subjection, that have so proudly trampled upon the Israel of God. And as for Palestine those accursed Philistins, let them if they can glory in my destruction, and triumph over me, as they did over Saul and his sons, whom they overcame, and insultingly abused their dead bodies. 1 Sam. 31.
9 The Edomites,9Who will bring me into the strong Citie? who will lead me into Edom? think their Metropolitan Citie Bozra an impregnable place, and it is a place of great strength indeed, nor easily taken by meer humane force, but I doubt not to get it for all that, if no earthly power can do it.
10 God from heaven that hath given me these victories over the Syrians,10Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies? and Edomites in the field, shall open the gates of that, and all such places to me, for all things shall go on our side, now we shall carry all before us, as heretofore we were born down on all hands, because God was against us.
11 Let us seek to him who is both able,11Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. and willing (if we do so) to make us a free and happy people, and be convinced of our sin and folly in trusting to any power but Gods to deliver or establish us, by what this Kingdom hath suffered under Saul, who was of your own chusing, and in whom you promised your selves such felicity.
12 Let us arm our selves therefore hence-forward principally with faith,12Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. trusting in Gods power and faithfulness, and going under his conduct, when we go against our enemies, so shall we be sure of good success, and come off conquerous, for as he hath promised, so will he perform, if we trust in him and relie upon him, even the vanquishing and triumphing over all our enemies under me, as the Church shall under Christ over hers.