Psalms 60

O God, thou hast cast us off Or, rejected, or forsaken us, as to thy gracious and powerful Presence, not only in the time of the Judges, but also during Sauls Reign., thou hast scattered us Heb. broken us; Partly, by that dreadful overthrow by the Philistins, 1 Sam. 31. and Partly, by the Civil War in our own Bowels, between me and Ishbosheth., thou hast been displeased; O turn thy self to us again.

Thou hast made the earth to tremble A poetical and Hyperbolical Expression, signifying great and dreadful Changes among the People, as Hagg. 2. 7. Comp. with Heb. 12. 26, 27. See also, 1 Sam. 14. 15.; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof Reconcile all those Differences, which our Civil Wars have made among us., for it shaketh.

Thou hast showed Heb. Made them to see, (i. e.) To Experience or Feel, as Seeing is oft put, as Psal. 49. 10. and oft elsewhere. thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment Thou hast filled us with no less Honour and Trembling, than Men who intoxicated with strong and stupifying Drink, which they are forced to Drink. Compare, Isa. 51. 17. 21..

Thou hast given Either, 1. Formerly. As thou hast sometimes afflicted thy People, so at other times thou hast delivered them. Or rather, 2. Now lately by and under me. a banner Which is a Sign and Instrument. 1. Of Union. This people who were lately divided and under several Banners, thou hast now gathered together and united under one Banner, to wit, under my Government. 2. Of Battel. Thou hast given us an Army, and Power to oppose our Enemies. We had our Banner to set against theirs. 3. Of Triumph. We have not lost our Banner, but gained theirs, and brought it away in Triumph Compare, Psal. 20. 5. Or, for, or, on the behalf of them that fear thee. An Emphatical passage implying, that God gave so great a Blessing, to the People of Israel, for the sake of those few sincere Israelites which were among them. to them that fear thee o: that it may be displayed because of the truth Not for any Merit of ours, but to show thy Faithfulness in making good thy Promises which thou hast made, both to me, concerning the Establishing of this Kingdom to me, and to my seed for ever, and to thy People in general; whom thou hast frequently Promised to hear and help when they call upon thee, in times of Trouble., Selah.

That thy beloved Thy beloved People last mentioned. may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.

God has spoken Having prayed that God would save and hear him, he now intimates that God had done it already, and had prevented his Prayers, and had spoken to him, and of him, about the stablishing of his Throne. in his holiness Or, in the Sanctuary, or Holy place, to which David used to resort to ask Counsel, and from whence God usually gave out his Oracles. Or rather, by his Holiness, as this very Word is rendred, Psal. 89. 35. which carries the form of an Oath, and implies that God did not simply speak, but swore by his Holiness, as it is there expressed., I will rejoyce Therefore I will turn my Prayers into Praises, and Rejoycings for what God had already done, and as I am assured, will further do on my behalf.: I will divide Or, Distribute; which supposeth Possession and Dominion. Shechem A place within Iordan, in Mount Ephraim. See Gen. 33. 18. Ios. 20. 7., and mete out the valley of Succoth A place without Iordan. See Gen. 33. 17. Ios. 13. 27. He mentions Shechem, and Succoth; Either, Synecdochically for all the Land of Canaan, within and without Iordan; which, having been formerly divided between him and Ishbosheth, was now intirely in his Possession: Or, because these two places had been in Ishbosheth's hands, and possibly were extraordinarily devoted to Saul's House, and utterly averse from David: Or, for some other Reason now unknown..

Gilead All their Land beyond Iordan, which was possessed by Reuben and Gad, and half of the Tribe of Manasseh, Numb. 32. 29. 39, 40. Deut. 3. 10. &c. Ios. 13. 25, &c. is mine, and Manasseh The other half of that Tribe within Iordan. is mine, Ephraim also is the strength of mine head Either, 1. Mine Horns wherewith I shall push mine Enemies, according to Moses his Prophecy of that Tribe, Deut. 33. 17. Or, 2. The keeper of mine Head, as Achish spake, 1 Sam. 28. 2. A chief part of my strength, either to offend mine Enemies, or to defend my self. For this Tribe was very Numerous, and Valiant and Rich. See Gen. 48. 19. Deut. 32. 11. Psal. 78. 9., Judah is my law-giver. The chief Seat of my Throne and Kingdom, and of the inferiour Thrones of Iudgment, Psal. 1 2. 5. the Tribe to which the Royal Scepter and Lawgiver, are appropriated by God's appointment, Gen. 49. 10.

Moab is my wash-pot In which I shall wash my Feet. I shall bring them into the lowest degree of Servitude, and make them Contemptible and miserable. See 2 Sam. 8. 2.; over Edom An Old and Proud, and insolent and cruel Enemy of Israel. will I cast out my shoe (i. e.) I will use them like Slaves; Either, holding forth my Shoes, that they may pluck them off, or throwing my Shoes at them; Either, in Anger or Contempt, as the manner of many Masters was, and is in such Cases. Other, I will take Possession of them; which was done by Trading upon their Land. Or, I will tread upon their Necks, as they did in like Case, Ios. 10. 24. But these Notions suit not with this Phrase, of casting or throwing the Shoe.: Philistia, triumph thou because of me Or, over me, as thou didst in former years, use to Triumph and insult over the poor Israelites. It is an ironical Expression, signifying, that her Triumphs were come to an End..

Who will bring me None can do it but God, as he declareth in the following Verses. into the strong city (i. e.) The Cities; the singular Number for the plural, which is usual. Having beaten his Enemies out of the Field, and into their strong Cities; from whence they hoped to renew the War, he desires God's Assistance whereby he may take their strong Holds, and so secure himself from further Attempts against him.? who will lead me into Edom Which was an high and Rocky Country, Obad. v. 3, fortified by Nature, as well as by Art, and therefore not to be invaded, and subdued without a divine Hand.?

Wilt not thou O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies To wit, in former times; but now hast graciously returned to us. He brings to his own and peoples Minds, their former Calamities, that they may be more thankful for present Mercies and Deliverances.?

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

Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. n Though I have some Reputation for Valour and Conduct, and though my People are very Numerous, and now united under me, yet all this will avail little or nothing without thy Almighty help.