Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 60

O God, you have cast us off - The word used here properly means to be foul, rancid, offensive; and then, to treat anything as if it were foul or rancid: to repel, to spurn, to cast away. See the notes at Psalm 43:2. This is strong language, meaning that God had seemed to treat them as if they were loathsome or offensive to Him.

The allusion, according to the view taken in the introduction to the psalm, is to some defeat or disaster that had occurred after the conquests in the East, or during the absence of David’s armies in the East (2 Samuel 8; 1 Chronicles 18). This likely refers to the Edomites taking the opportunity to invade southern Palestine, and the forces sent to expel them being unsuccessful.

You have scattered us - Margin: broken. So the Hebrew. The word is applied to forces of war that are broken and scattered by defeat (2 Samuel 5:20).

You have been displeased - The word used here means “to breathe,” to breathe hard, and then, to be angry. See the notes at Psalm 2:12. God had treated them as if He was displeased or angry. He had allowed them to be defeated.

O turn yourself to us again - Return to our armies, and give us success. This might be rendered, “You will turn to us;” that is, you will favor us—expressing a confident belief that God would do this, as in Psalm 60:12. It is more in accordance, however, with the usual structure of the Psalms to regard this as a prayer. Many psalms begin with a prayer and end with the expression of a confident assurance that the prayer has been heard, or would certainly be heard.

Thou hast made the earth to tremble — This refers, doubtless, to some calamity that might be compared with an earthquake—some disaster, frustration, or defeat that had shaken their hopes, as a city is shaken by an earthquake. Such comparisons are common in the Scriptures.

Thou hast broken it — As if it were broken up, or convulsed.

Heal the breaches thereof — That is, appear for your people, and repair their disasters, as if after an earthquake you should appear and fill up the cracks which it had made. The prayer is that he would place things in their former condition of prosperity and success.

For it shaketh — It is convulsed or agitated. That is, there is still commotion. Things are unsettled and disturbed. The prayer is that there might be stability or continued success.

You have shown your people hard things - You have caused them to see reverses, disappointments, and trials. This refers, according to the supposition in the Introduction to the psalm, to some calamitous events which had occurred. The probability seems to be that the Edomites may have spread desolation over the land.

You have made us to drink the wine of astonishment - The word rendered “astonishment”—תרעלה tar‛êlâh—occurs only here and in (Isaiah 51:17) and (Isaiah 51:22)—in both of which verses in Isaiah it is rendered trembling. It properly means reeling, drunkenness; and the idea here is that it was as if he had given them a cup—that is, an intoxicating drink—which had caused them to reel as a drunken man; or, in other words, their efforts had been unsuccessful. Compare (Psalms 11:6, note); (Isaiah 51:17, note).

You have given a banner to those who fear you — The word rendered “banner”—נס nês—properly means anything elevated or lifted up, and hence, a standard, a flag, a sign, or a signal. It may refer to a standard raised on lofty mountains or high places during an invasion of a country, to point out to the people a place of rendezvous or a rallying place (Isaiah 5:26; Isaiah 11:12; Isaiah 18:3); or it may refer to a standard or ensign borne by an army; or it may refer to the flag of a ship (Ezekiel 27:7; Isaiah 33:23).

Here it doubtless refers to the flag, the banner, the standard of an army; and the idea is that God had committed such a standard to his people so that they might go forth as soldiers in his cause. They were enlisted in his service and were fighting his battles.

That it may be displayed because of the truth — In the cause of truth, or in the defense of justice and right. It was not to be displayed for vain parade or ostentation; it was not to be unfolded in an unrighteous or unjust cause; it was not to be waved for the mere purpose of carrying desolation or of securing victory. It was so that a righteous cause might be vindicated and that the honor of God might be promoted. This was the reason which the psalmist now urges why God should interpose and repair their disasters—that it was his cause, and that they were appointed to maintain and defend it.

What was true then of the people of God, is true of the church now. God has given to his church a banner or a standard that it may wage a war of justice, righteousness, and truth; that it may be employed in resisting and overcoming his enemies; that it may carry the weapons of truth and right against all injustice, falsehood, error, oppression, and wrong; that it may ever be found on the side of humanity and benevolence—of virtue, temperance, liberty, and equality; and that it may bear the great principles of the true religion to every territory of the enemy, until the whole world shall be subdued to God.

That thy beloved may be delivered - The word beloved is in the plural number, and might be rendered beloved ones. It refers not merely to David as his servant and friend, but to those associated with him. The reference is to the calamities and dangers then existing, to which allusion has been made above. The prayer is, that the enemy might be driven back, and the land delivered from their invasion.

Save with thy right hand - The right hand is that by which the sword is handled, the spear hurled, the arrow drawn on the bow. The prayer is, that God would put forth his power and deliver his people.

And hear me - literally, Answer me. The answer which he desired was that God would lead his armies successfully into Edom (Psalms 60:8–9).