mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 60.xml

<div2 id="Ps.lxi" n="lxi" next="Ps.lxii" prev="Ps.lx" progress="42.06%" title="Chapter LX">
<h2 id="Ps.lxi-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.lxi-p0.2">PSALM LX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.lxi-p1">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
<scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.8.3 Bible:2Sam.8.13 Bible:1Chr.18.3 Bible:1Chr.18.12" parsed="|2Sam|8|3|0|0;|2Sam|8|13|0|0;|1Chr|18|3|0|0;|1Chr|18|12|0|0" passage="2Sa 8:3,13,1Ch 18:3,12">2 Sam. viii. 3, 13; 1
Chron. xviii. 3, 12</scripRef>. 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, <scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.1-Ps.60.3" parsed="|Ps|60|1|60|3" passage="Ps 60:1-3">ver.
1-3</scripRef>. II. He takes notice of the happy turn lately given
to their affairs, <scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.4" parsed="|Ps|60|4|0|0" passage="Ps 60:4">ver. 4</scripRef>.
III. He prays for the deliverance of God's Israel from their
enemies, <scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.5" parsed="|Ps|60|5|0|0" passage="Ps 60:5">ver. 5</scripRef>. IV. He
triumphs in hope of their victories over their enemies, and begs of
God to carry them on and complete them, <scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.6-Ps.60.12" parsed="|Ps|60|6|60|12" passage="Ps 60:6-12">ver. 6-12</scripRef>. 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.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.lxi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60" parsed="|Ps|60|0|0|0" passage="Ps 60" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.lxi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.1-Ps.60.5" parsed="|Ps|60|1|60|5" passage="Ps 60:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.60.1-Ps.60.5">
<h4 id="Ps.lxi-p1.8">David's Complaints and
Petitions.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.lxi-p1.9">
<p id="Ps.lxi-p2">To the chief musician upon Shushan-eduth, Michtam of David, to
teach,<br/>
when he strove with Aram-naharaim, and with Aramzobah, when<br/>
Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt 12,000.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxi-p3">1 O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast
scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us
again.   2 Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast
broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.   3 Thou
hast showed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the
wine of astonishment.   4 Thou hast given a banner to them
that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.
Selah.   5 That thy beloved may be delivered; save <i>with</i>
thy right hand, and hear me.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxi-p4">The title gives us an account, 1. Of the
general design of the psalm. It is <i>Michtam—David's jewel,</i>
and it is <i>to teach.</i> The Levites must teach it to the people,
and by it teach them both to trust in God and to triumph in him; we
must, in it, teach ourselves and one another. In a day of public
rejoicing we have need to be taught to direct our joy to God and to
terminate it in him, to give none of that praise to the instruments
of our deliverance which is due to him only, and to encourage our
hopes with our joys. 2. Of the particular occasion of it. It was at
a time, (1.) When he was at war with the Syrians, and still had a
conflict with them, both those of Mesopotamia and those of Zobah.
(2.) When he had gained a great victory over the Edomites, by his
forces, under the command of Joab, who had left 12,000 of the enemy
dead upon the spot. David has an eye to both these concerns in this
psalm: he is in care about his strife with the Assyrians, and in
reference to that he prays; he is rejoicing in his success against
the Edomites, and in reference to that he triumphs with a holy
confidence in God that he would complete the victory. We have our
cares at the same time that we have our joys, and they may serve
for a balance to each other, that neither may exceed. They may
likewise furnish us with matter both for prayer and praise, for
both must be laid before God with suitable affections and emotions.
If one point be gained, yet in another we are still striving: the
Edomites are vanquished, but the Syrians are not; therefore <i>let
not him that girds on the harness boast as if he had put it
off.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxi-p5">In these verses, which begin the psalm, we
have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxi-p6">I. A melancholy memorial of the many
disgraces and disappointments which God had, for some years past,
put the people under. During the reign of Saul, especially in the
latter end of it, and during David's struggle with the house of
Saul, while he reigned over Judah only, the affairs of the kingdom
were much perplexed, and the neighbouring nations were vexatious to
them. 1. He complains of <i>hard things</i> which they had seen
(that is, which they had suffered), while the Philistines and other
ill-disposed neighbours took all advantages against them, <scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.3" parsed="|Ps|60|3|0|0" passage="Ps 60:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. God sometimes shows even
his own people hard things in this world, that they may not take up
their rest in it, but may dwell at ease in him only. 2. He owns
God's displeasure to be the cause of all the hardships they had
undergone: "<i>Thou hast been displeased</i> by us, displeased
against us (<scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.1" parsed="|Ps|60|1|0|0" passage="Ps 60:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>),
and in thy displeasure hast cast us off and scattered us, hast put
us out of thy protection, else our enemies could not have prevailed
thus against us. They would never have picked us up and made a prey
of us if thou hadst not broken <i>the staff of bands</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Zech.11.14" parsed="|Zech|11|14|0|0" passage="Zec 11:14">Zech. xi. 14</scripRef>) by which we were
united, and so scattered us." Whatever our trouble is, and whoever
are the instruments of it, we must own the hand of God, his
righteous hand, in it. 3. He laments the ill effects and
consequences of the miscarriages of the late years. The whole
nation was in a convulsion: <i>Thou hast made the earth</i> (or
<i>the land) to tremble,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.2" parsed="|Ps|60|2|0|0" passage="Ps 60:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. The generality of the people had dreadful
apprehensions of the issue of these things. The good people
themselves were in a consternation: "<i>Thou hast made us to drink
the wine of astonishment</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.3" parsed="|Ps|60|3|0|0" passage="Ps 60:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>); we were like men intoxicated, and at our wits' end,
not knowing how to reconcile these dispensations with God's
promises and his relation to his people; we are amazed, can do
nothing, nor know we what to do." Now this is mentioned here <i>to
teach,</i> that is, for the instruction of the people. When God is
turning his hand in our favour, it is good to remember our former
calamities, (1.) That we may retain the good impressions they made
upon us, and may have them revived. Our souls must still have the
affliction and the misery in remembrance, that they may be
<i>humbled within us,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:Lam.3.19-Lam.3.20" parsed="|Lam|3|19|3|20" passage="La 3:19,20">Lam. iii.
19, 20</scripRef>. (2.) That God's goodness to us, in relieving us
and raising us up, may be more magnified; for it is as life from
the dead, so strange, so refreshing. Our calamities serve as foils
to our joys. (3.) That we may not be secure, but may always rejoice
with trembling, as those that know not how soon we may be returned
into the furnace again, which we were lately taken out of as the
silver is when it is not thoroughly refined.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxi-p7">II. A thankful notice of the encouragement
God had given them to hope that, though things had been long bad,
they would now begin to mend (<scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.4" parsed="|Ps|60|4|0|0" passage="Ps 60:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>): "<i>Thou hast given a banner to those that fear
thee</i> (for, as bad as the times are, there is a remnant among us
that desire to fear thy name, for whom thou hast a tender concern),
<i>that it may be displayed</i> by thee, <i>because of the
truth</i> of thy promise which thou wilt perform, and to be
displayed by them, in defense of truth and equity," <scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.4" parsed="|Ps|45|4|0|0" passage="Ps 45:4">Ps. xlv. 4</scripRef>. This banner was David's
government, the establishment and enlargement of it over all
Israel. The pious Israelites, who feared God and had a regard to
the divine designation of David to the throne, took his elevation
as a token for good, and like the lifting up of a banner to them,
1. It united them, as soldiers are gathered together to their
colours. Those that were <i>scattered</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.1" parsed="|Ps|60|1|0|0" passage="Ps 60:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), divided among themselves, and so
weakened and exposed, coalesced in him when he was fixed upon the
throne. 2. It animated them, and put life and courage into them, as
the soldiers are animated by the sight of their banner. 3. It
struck a terror upon their enemies, to whom they could now hang out
a flag of defiance. Christ, the Son of David, is given <i>for an
ensign of the people</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.11.10" parsed="|Isa|11|10|0|0" passage="Isa 11:10">Isa. xi.
10</scripRef>), for a banner to those that fear God; in him, as the
centre of their unity, they are gathered together in one; to him
they seek, in him they glory and take courage. His love is the
banner over them; in his name and strength they wage war with the
powers of darkness, and under him the church becomes terrible as an
army with banners.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxi-p8">III. A humble petition for seasonable
mercy. 1. That God would be reconciled to them, though he had been
displeased with them. In his displeasure their calamities began,
and therefore in his favour their prosperity must begin: <i>O turn
thyself to us again!</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.1" parsed="|Ps|60|1|0|0" passage="Ps 60:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>) smile upon us, and take part with us; be at peace
with us, and in that peace we shall have peace. <i>Tranquillus Deus
tranquillat omnia—A God at peace with us spreads peace over all
the scene.</i> 2. That they might be reconciled to one another,
though they had been broken and wretchedly divided among
themselves: "<i>Heal the breaches of our land</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.2" parsed="|Ps|60|2|0|0" passage="Ps 60:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>), not only the breaches
made upon us by our enemies, but the breaches made among ourselves
by our unhappy divisions." Those are breaches which the folly and
corruption of man makes, and which nothing but the wisdom and grace
of God can make up and repair, by pouring out a spirit of love and
peace, by which only a shaken shattered kingdom is set to rights
and saved from ruin. 3. That thus they might be preserved out of
the hands of their enemies (<scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.5" parsed="|Ps|60|5|0|0" passage="Ps 60:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>): "<i>That thy beloved may be delivered,</i> and not
made a prey of, <i>save with thy right hand,</i> with thy own power
and by such instruments as thou art pleased to make the men of thy
right hand, <i>and hear me.</i>" Those that fear God are his
beloved; they are dear to him as the apple of his eye. They are
often in distress, but they shall be delivered. God's own right
hand shall save them; for those that have his heart have his hand.
<i>Save them, and hear me.</i> Note, God's praying people may take
the general deliverances of the church as answers to their prayers
in particular. If we improve what interest we have at the throne of
grace for blessings for the public, and those blessings be
bestowed, besides the share we have with others in the benefit of
them we may each of us say, with peculiar satisfaction, "God has
therein heard me, and answered me."</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.lxi-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.6-Ps.60.12" parsed="|Ps|60|6|60|12" passage="Ps 60:6-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.60.6-Ps.60.12">
<h4 id="Ps.lxi-p8.5">Rejoicing in Hope.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxi-p9">6 God hath spoken in his holiness; I will
rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
  7 Gilead <i>is</i> mine, and Manasseh <i>is</i> mine;
Ephraim also <i>is</i> the strength of mine head; Judah <i>is</i>
my lawgiver;   8 Moab <i>is</i> my washpot; over Edom will I
cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.   9
Who will bring me <i>into</i> the strong city? who will lead me
into Edom?   10 <i>Wilt</i> not thou, O God, <i>which</i>
hadst cast us off? and <i>thou,</i> O God, <i>which</i> didst not
go out with our armies?   11 Give us help from trouble: for
vain <i>is</i> the help of man.   12 Through God we shall do
valiantly: for he <i>it is that</i> shall tread down our
enemies.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxi-p10">David is here rejoicing in hope and praying
in hope; such are the triumphs of the saints, not so much upon the
account of what they have in possession as of what they have in
prospect (<scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.6" parsed="|Ps|60|6|0|0" passage="Ps 60:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>):
"<i>God has spoken in his holiness</i> (that is, he has given me
his word of promise, has <i>sworn by his holiness, and he will not
lie unto David,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.89.35" parsed="|Ps|89|35|0|0" passage="Ps 89:35">Ps. lxxxix.
35</scripRef>), therefore <i>I will rejoice,</i> and please myself
with the hopes of the performance of the promise, which was
intended for more than a pleasing promise," Note, God's word of
promise, being a firm foundation of hope, is a full fountain of joy
to all believers.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxi-p11">I. David here rejoices; and it is in
prospect of two things:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxi-p12">1. The perfecting of this revolution in his
own kingdom. God having <i>spoken in his holiness</i> that David
shall be king, he doubts not but the kingdom is all his own, as
sure as if it were already in his hand: <i>I will divide
Shechem</i> (a pleasant city in Mount Ephraim) <i>and mete out the
valley of Succoth,</i> as my own. <i>Gilead is mine, and Manasseh
is mine,</i> and both are entirely reduced, <scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.7" parsed="|Ps|60|7|0|0" passage="Ps 60:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. Ephraim would furnish him with
soldiers for his life-guards and his standing forces; Judah would
furnish him with able judges for his courts of justice; and thus
Ephraim would be <i>the strength of his head</i> and Judah <i>his
lawgiver.</i> Thus may an active believer triumph in the promises,
and take the comfort of all the good contained in them; for they
are all yea and amen in Christ. "<i>God has spoken in his
holiness,</i> and then pardon is mine, peace mine, grace mine,
Christ mine, heaven mine, God himself mine." <i>All is yours, for
you are Christ's,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.3.22-1Cor.3.23" parsed="|1Cor|3|22|3|23" passage="1Co 3:22,23">1 Cor. iii.
22, 23</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxi-p13">2. The conquering of the neighbouring
nations, which had been vexatious to Israel, were still dangerous,
and opposed the throne of David, <scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.8" parsed="|Ps|60|8|0|0" passage="Ps 60:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. Moab shall be enslaved, and put
to the meanest drudgery. <i>The Moabites became David's
servants,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.8.2" parsed="|2Sam|8|2|0|0" passage="2Sa 8:2">2 Sam. viii.
2</scripRef>. Edom shall be made a dunghill to throw old shoes
upon; at least David shall take possession of it as his own, which
was signified by <i>drawing off his shoe</i> over it, <scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Ruth.4.7" parsed="|Ruth|4|7|0|0" passage="Ru 4:7">Ruth iv. 7</scripRef>. As for the Philistines, let
them, if they dare, triumph over him as they had done; he will soon
force them to change their note. Rather let those that know their
own interest triumph because of him; for it would be the greatest
kindness imaginable to them to be brought into subjection to David
and communion with Israel. But the war is not yet brought to an
end; there is a <i>strong city,</i> Rabbah (perhaps) of the
children of Ammon, which yet holds out; Edom is not yet subdued.
Now, (1.) David is here enquiring for help to carry on the ark:
"<i>Who will bring me into the strong city?</i> What allies, what
auxiliaries, can I depend upon, to make me master of the enemies'
country and their strongholds?" Those that have begun a good work
cannot but desire to make a thorough work of it, and to bring it to
perfection. (2.) He is expecting it from God only: "<i>Wilt not
thou, O God?</i> For thou hast <i>spoken in thy holiness;</i> and
wilt not thou be as good as thy word?" He takes notice of the
frowns of Providence they had been under: <i>Thou hadst,</i> in
appearance, <i>cast us off; thou didst not go forth with our
armies.</i> When they were defeated and met with disappointments,
they owned it was because they wanted (that is, because they had
forfeited) the gracious presence of God with them; yet they do not
therefore fly off from him, but rather take so much the faster hold
of him; and the less he has done for them of late the more they
hoped he would do. At the same time that they own God's justice in
what was past they hope in his mercy for what was to come: "Though
<i>thou hadst cast us off,</i> yet thou wilt not contend for ever,
thou wilt not always chide; though <i>thou hadst cast us off,</i>
yet thou hast begun to show mercy; and wilt thou not perfect what
thou hast begun?" The Son of David, in his sufferings, seemed to be
cast off by his Father when he cried out, <i>Why hast thou forsaken
me?</i> and yet even then he obtained a glorious victory over the
powers of darkness and their strong city, a victory which will
undoubtedly be completed at last; for he has gone forth conquering
and to conquer. The Israel of God, his spiritual Israel, are
likewise, through him, more than conquerors. Though sometimes they
may be tempted to think that God has cast them off, and may be
foiled in particular conflicts, yet God will bring them into the
strong city at last. <i>Vincimur in prælio, sed non in bello—We
are foiled in a battle, but not in the whole war.</i> A lively
faith in the promise will assure us, not only that <i>the God of
peace shall tread Satan under our feet shortly,</i> but that <i>it
is our Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxi-p14">II. He prays in hope. His prayer is,
<i>Give us help from trouble,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.11" parsed="|Ps|60|11|0|0" passage="Ps 60:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. Even in the day of their
triumph they see themselves in trouble, because still in war, which
is troublesome even to the prevailing side. None therefore can
delight in war but those that love to fish in troubled waters. The
<i>help from trouble</i> they pray for is preservation from those
they were at war with. Though now they were conquerors, yet (so
uncertain are the issues of war), unless God gave them help in the
next engagement, they might be defeated; therefore, <i>Lord, send
us help from the sanctuary. Help from trouble</i> is rest from war,
which they prayed for, as those that contended for equity, not for
victory. <i>Sic quærimus pacem—Thus we seek for peace.</i> The
hope with which they support themselves in this prayer has two
things in it:—1. A diffidence of themselves and all their
creature-confidences: <i>Vain is the help of man.</i> Then only we
are qualified to receive help from God when we are brought to own
the insufficiency of all creatures to do that for us which we
expect him to do. 2. A confidence in God, and in his power and
promise (<scripRef id="Ps.lxi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.12" parsed="|Ps|60|12|0|0" passage="Ps 60:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>):
"<i>Through God we shall do valiantly,</i> and so we shall do
victoriously; for <i>he it is,</i> and he only, <i>that shall tread
down our enemies,</i> and shall have the praise of doing it." Note,
(1.) Our confidence in God must be so far from superseding that it
must encourage and quicken our endeavours in the way of our duty.
Though <i>it is God that performs all things for us,</i> yet there
is something to be done by us. (2.) Hope in God is the best
principle of true courage. Those that do their duty under his
conduct may afford to do it valiantly; for what need those fear who
have God on their side? (3.) It is only through God, and by the
influence of his grace, that we do valiantly; it is he that puts
strength into us, and inspires us, who of ourselves are weak and
timorous, with courage and resolution. (4.) Though we do ever so
valiantly, the success must be attributed entirely to him; for
<i>he it is that shall tread down our enemies,</i> and not we
ourselves. All our victories, as well as our valour, are from him,
and therefore at his feet all our crown must be cast.</p>
</div></div2>