[2] Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.
Tremble — A poetical expression, signifying great changes among the people.
Verse 3
[3] Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.
To drink — Thou hast filled us with no less honor, than men intoxicated with strong drink.
Verse 4
[4] Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. /*Selah*/.
A banner — Which is a sign and instrument, 1. Of union. This people who were lately divided, thou hast united under one banner, under my government: 2. Of battle. Thou hast given us an army, and power to oppose our enemies; which blessing God gave to Israel, for the sake of those few sincere Israelites who were among them.
The truth — Not for any merit of ours, but to shew thy faithfulness in making good thy promises.
Verse 5
[5] That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.
Beloved — Thy beloved people.
Verse 6
[6] God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
Rejoice — Therefore I will turn my prayers into praises, for what God has already done.
Divide — Which supposeth possession and dominion.
Shechem — A place within Jordan, in mount Ephraim.
Succoth — A place without Jordan. He mentions Shechem, and Succoth; for all the land of Canaan, within and without Jordan.
Verse 7
[7] Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
Gilead — All the land beyond Jordan, which was possessed by Reuben and Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh.
Manasseh — The other half of that tribe within Jordan.
The strength — A chief part of my strength, either to offend mine enemies, or to defend myself. For this tribe was very numerous, and valiant and rich.
Law-giver — The chief seat of my throne and kingdom, and of the inferior throne of judgment, Psalms 122:5.
Verse 8
[8] Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.
Wash-pot — In which I shall wash my feet. I shall bring them into the lowest degree of servitude.
Shoe — I will use them like slaves; a proverbial expression.
Triumph — It is an ironical expression, signifying that her triumphs were come to an end.
Verse 9
[9] Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
Who — None can do it but God.
City — The cities; the singular number for the plural. Having beaten his enemies out of the field, he desires God's assistance to take their strong-holds, and so secure himself from farther attempts.
Edom — Which was an high and rocky country, Obadiah 1-3, fortified by nature, as well as by art, and therefore not to be subdued without a Divine hand.
Verse 10
[10] Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?
Hadst cut off — But now hast graciously returned to us.
Psalm 60 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 2
[2] Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.
Tremble — A poetical expression, signifying great changes among the people.
Verse 3
[3] Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.
To drink — Thou hast filled us with no less honor, than men intoxicated with strong drink.
Verse 4
[4] Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. /*Selah*/.
A banner — Which is a sign and instrument, 1. Of union. This people who were lately divided, thou hast united under one banner, under my government: 2. Of battle. Thou hast given us an army, and power to oppose our enemies; which blessing God gave to Israel, for the sake of those few sincere Israelites who were among them.
The truth — Not for any merit of ours, but to shew thy faithfulness in making good thy promises.
Verse 5
[5] That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.
Beloved — Thy beloved people.
Verse 6
[6] God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
Rejoice — Therefore I will turn my prayers into praises, for what God has already done.
Divide — Which supposeth possession and dominion.
Shechem — A place within Jordan, in mount Ephraim.
Succoth — A place without Jordan. He mentions Shechem, and Succoth; for all the land of Canaan, within and without Jordan.
Verse 7
[7] Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
Gilead — All the land beyond Jordan, which was possessed by Reuben and Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh.
Manasseh — The other half of that tribe within Jordan.
The strength — A chief part of my strength, either to offend mine enemies, or to defend myself. For this tribe was very numerous, and valiant and rich.
Law-giver — The chief seat of my throne and kingdom, and of the inferior throne of judgment, Psalms 122:5.
Verse 8
[8] Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.
Wash-pot — In which I shall wash my feet. I shall bring them into the lowest degree of servitude.
Shoe — I will use them like slaves; a proverbial expression.
Triumph — It is an ironical expression, signifying that her triumphs were come to an end.
Verse 9
[9] Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
Who — None can do it but God.
City — The cities; the singular number for the plural. Having beaten his enemies out of the field, he desires God's assistance to take their strong-holds, and so secure himself from farther attempts.
Edom — Which was an high and rocky country, Obadiah 1-3, fortified by nature, as well as by art, and therefore not to be subdued without a Divine hand.
Verse 10
[10] Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?
Hadst cut off — But now hast graciously returned to us.