Psalms 60

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. This Psalm was composed by David, and delivered t6 the master of music in the tabernacle. It is not known to what time it relates; but by the matter of it wo understand he was in some great distress when he indited it, either by the persecution of Saul, or of Absalom. Theodorct thinks the latter, and gives this reason for it: that the trouble which Saul gave him was before his great sin, and so he was full of confidence; but that of Absalom was after it, which made him cry out in this doleful - manner. To the chief Musician.’ A Psalm of David. A Psalm composed by David, and delivered to the master’ of music in the tabernacle: wherein he describes his confidence in God, notwithstanding a grievous strait wherein he was; when (as I understand it), after his escape from Keilah, Saul, with three battalions (as we now speak), pursued him so close in the wilderness of Maon, that without an extraordinary providence of God over him, he had certainly fallen into his hands. To that strange deliverance, and not that from Absalom (to which Theodoret refers it), it is the more probable he hath a respect in this Psalm (in the latter end of which it is thankfully commemorated), because the haste, which the Psalmist here saith (ver. 22.) he made in that sore distress, is expressed by the very same word (and used no where else in any other part of David s history), when the great fright he was in, and his sudden speedy flight from one place to another, is described, 1 Sam. xxiii. 26. To the chief Musician upon Shushan-edatJi, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aram-Naharaim, and with Aram-Zobah; when Joab returned, and smoVe ofEdom in the Valley of Salt twelve thousand. ARGUMENT 1. This Psalm, we learn by the title,. was penned by David after Saul’s persecution was ended by death; and David not only ruled over Judah> but Israel also. Till which time the Philistines and other nations afflicted the country very much, by reason of the divisions there were between the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah: as they had done also all the days of Saul, w r hilc he was busying himself in pursuing his hatred against David; and neglected his foreign enemies so much, that the Philistines were too hard for him, and at last overthrew him in that" great battle wherein he and his sons were slain, (1 Sara, xxxi.) Bat when David was come to the crown, and both kingdoms also united hvhim, God himself seemed to lift up an ensign to them, (as he speaks here, ver. 4.) to call them to resort with one consent unto David, in assured hope of victory over their enemies. Accordingly he subdued the Philistines, as you read 2 Sam. viiL 1. (which chapter must be read for the understanding^ this Psalm), and after that smote the Moabites, ver. 2. of that chapter; and then, in a memorable battle (parti-. cularly taken notice of in the title of this Psalm), overthrew the Syrians, calledhere and in other places Aram r both those that lived between the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates, called Naharaim; and those that adjoined’fcb them, in that part of Syria, called Zobah, (ver. 3, &c.) And returning from this victory, after his lieutenant-general Abishai had slain of the Edomites eighteen thousand, (2 Sam. viii. 13. 1 Chron. xviii. 12.) Joab, the general of all his forces, fell upon them again, and killed in the same place, the Valley of Salt, twelve thousand more (as the title of this Psalm informs us), and afterward destroyed them entirely, leaving never a male-child, that he could find, remaining, (1 Kings xi. 15, 16.) For all w r hich expeditions, when David was preparing himself, he composed this Psalm, and delivered it to the master of music in the tabernacle, to be sung upon an instrument of six strings, which was wont to be used in solemn thanksgivings (and therefore called Shushan-eduth). For he nothing doubted, but God would prosper his arms better than he had done Saul’s; and both give him the victor)’ over their forces in the field, and bring him also into their fortified cities, (ver. 9.) as we read he did, 2 Sam. viii. 14, Which made this Psalm also be called Michtam of David; (see Psal. xvi.) being a most precious memorial, worthy to be ever preserved, of his faith in God, and of the admirable success of it, whereby posterity should learn to trust in him.

Psalms 60:1

HoWlong iviWjhou forget me, OLord?for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from vie?. What a sad condition is this, O Lord, into which I am fallen, and in which thou seemest to neglect me? I have waited a long time for some glimpse of thy favour; but can see no sign of deliverance, nor tell how long thou intendest to delay it. »: AN thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.] Thou seest, Lord, that in all these persecutions which I endure, I have no confidence in any thing, but only thy power and goodness; which if they should fail me, I should be lamentably ashamed; prevent that confusion, O Lord, amT magnify thy own mercy and. fidelity, by preserving me in;" and delivering me out, of these dangers which now encompass me. (J GOD, tJiou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered its, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again] O God, the judge of all the world, who hast lately rejected us, and refused to go out with our armies; who hast broken and scattered our forces, (1 Sam. xxxi. 1. 7.) so highly had our sins provoked thy displeasure; I most humbly beseech thee to return to us with thy favour, and make us as prosperous as we have been unsuccessful.

Psalms 60:2

Hoiv long shall I take counsel in my soul, having; sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted overjne?. O how afflictive is it, that there is no end of my anxious thoughts! but I am always casting in my mind, with a heavy heart, where I shall shift for my life, and can think myself in no place secure. The pow r er of my enemy is.very great, and threatens, like a tempest hanging over my head, every moment to fall upon me. t O when shall I sec it dispersed? Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for a house of defence to save me.] Graciously incline to favour my request, now that I am so sorely pressed by my enemies, that they arc ready to seize on me; haste thy relief, for it is not this rock or strong hold wherein I am (1 Sam. xxiii. 25.) that can protect me, but only thou, O Lord; to whom I resort as a more sure defence, than the most impregnable fortress in the world: Tliou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.] There have been dreadful commotions among ourselves, and miserable rents and divisions, (2 Sam. ii. 9,. 10. 17. iii. 1.) the woful effects of which remain to this day, and call for thy help; who alone canst repair the breaches our folly hath made, and perfect the union which is begun.

Psalms 60:3

Consider and hear, me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. Thus I sigh perpetually to thee, O Lord, the omnipotent lluler and just Judge of the world; beseeching thee to. commiserate my affliction, and, as thou hast done often, to answer my prayer. Thou seest with what dangers I am encompassed, and how forlorn and dismal my condition is: endue me with -wisdom and circumspection, that I may escape these dangers; and revive and cheer me under these sad afflictions, lest my spirit sink within me, or the enemy destroy me. For thou art my rock and my fortress: therefore, for thy name’s sake, lead me and guide me.] For so I have hitherto found thee, in all my distresses, and therefore I still flee to thee for safety; beseeching thee to glorify thyself (I have no other argument whereby to move thee) in leading me out of this strait, and guiding my steps so, that’ 1 may not fall into the hands of my enemies: Tliou hast shelved thy people hard things; thou Jutst made us to drink the wine of astonishment.] Thou hast made us feel what it is to offend thee, by inflicting grievous punishments upon us, wherein thou hast fulfilled the words of thy servant Moses; (Deut. xxviii. 18. 34.) for we have been like to men bereft of the use of their reason by some intoxicating potion, and have madly destroyed one another.

Psalms 60:4

Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed, against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. Let not him that persecutes me boast of his success, as he certainly will, unless thou affordest me thy conduct and comfort; which I humbly again implore, that they.who join with him may not have the pleasure to sec mo fall, and insult over my misery.. Ver; 5. But I have trusted in thy mercy; vxy heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.] I am unworthy, indeed, of thy favour; but hope thou wilt magnify thine own mercy, in which I have placed such an entire confidence, that I persuade myself I shall have the joy to see thee deliver mc out of all these distresses. Ver. G. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me<] Which shall be acknowledged with the most cheerful hymns of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, who hath dealt so well with me, as to render to me not according to my merits, but according to my hope and trust in his inconceivable mercy. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me; for thou art my strength.] Who have now so circumvented me, and, by the secret treachery of the Ziphites, brought me into such perplexities, (1 Sam. xxiii. 19, 20, &c.) that I am undone, unless thou extricate me: as I 1 hope thou wilt; for I profess again, that I depend on thee* alone for help and deliverance. Thou hast given a banner to them that fear tfiee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.] But now thou hast granted the desires of those that devoutly worship thee, and, according to thy faithful promise, (2 Sam. iii. 9. 18.) given me to them to be their king; to whom they should all repair^ as soldiers do to their ensign when it is lifted up, and unanimously fight against their enemies under my conduct.

Psalms 60:5

Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. Unto thy care and custody I commit myself, and deposit my very-life with" That thy beloved may be delivered, save with’ thy right Jiand, and hear me.’] Which I beseech thee to bless and prosper; that by the mighty power accompanying my arms, I may be an instrument of delivering thy beloved people from those that have oppressed them.

Psalms 60:6

God hath spoken in his holiness; I Will rejoice: I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. Why should I doubt of it? And not rather rejoice in assured hope of vietoiy; since God, who is most holy, and cannot lie, hath said, He will deliver them by my hand, (2 Sam. iii. 18.) and hath already put me in possession (as he also promised, ver. 2.) of all the country about Samaria, which I will distribute under such officers as I think fit to set over them.

Psalms 60:7

Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Jadah is my lawgiver.) Gilead also and Manasseh, who were lately under another king, (2 Sam. ii. 9.) have submitted themselves unto me; and so hath the tribe of Ephraim, which is a main support of my authority: these, and all the rest of the tribes of Israel, are now united to the royal tribe of Judali, which (according to the word of our forefather, Gen. xlix. 10.) supplies me with wise and able men to administer the laws, and order the affairs of my kingdom.

Psalms 60:8

Moab is my wash-pot; overEdom will I cast out’ my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me. Which shall now extend itself beyond the bounds of this country; for I will tread Moab under my feet, and reduce them to the vilest servitude; (2 Sam.* viii. 2.) I will trample also upon the Edomites, and make them my slaves, (ver. 14.) The Philistines likewise, whom I have begun to smite, (2 Sam. v. 17, &c. 22, &c.) shall add to my triumphs, and be forced to meet me as their conquering lord, (2 Sam. viii. 1.)

Psalms 60:9

Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?. These are difficult things indeed; and I may well ask, when I consider how potent these nations are, By what power or force shall I enter that stronglyfenced city, in the frontiers of their Country? who is it that /will conduct me into Idumea, and make me master of it?

Psalms 60:10

Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off 1? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?. But I can soon answer myself; for why should I despair of thy presence Avith us, O God of all power and might? who formerly indeed didst reject us, and forsake the conduct of our armies; but now, I liope, wilt graciously aid us,, and make us victorious.-

Psalms 60:11

Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Do not frustrate these hopes; but afford us thy help against the Syrians also, (2 Sam. viii. 5.) now that they distress us; for no human force is able to deliver us, nor have we any confidence in it, but in thee alone.

Psalms 60:12

Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. By whose assistance we will behave ourselves courageously, and do valiant acts; for God will utterly rout our enemies, and tread them down like mire in the streets..