Psalm Sixty

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

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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.

Shushan-eduth. See the titles of Psalms 45 and 80. Shushan-eduth refers to a type of hymn tune and meant “To the lilies.”

smote of Edom. The historical reference may be to unrecorded campaigns of David and Joab against Syria in the north and Edom in the south.

Psalm 60:1 O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.

turn thyself to us again. This is the last of David's six “Michtams.” The meaning of “michtam” is uncertain but seems to reflect deep concern overlain with trust. The King James translators believed it was related to the Hebrew word for “engraving” and so called such psalms “golden psalms.”

Psalm 60:2 Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.

Psalm 60:3 Thou hast showed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.

Psalm 60:4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah

given a banner. Despite the unnamed setbacks in their efforts to claim the entire land of promise, David in faith would go forward under his banner of “truth,” believing in the promises of God's Word. The remaining verses express confidence that God will indeed give them victories over all portions of the promised land.

Psalm 60:5 That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.

Psalm 60:6 God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

Psalm 60:7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;

Psalm 60:8 Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.

Psalm 60:9 Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?

Psalm 60:10 Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?

Psalm 60:11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

Psalm 60:12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.