Psalm 60 Study Notes

Ps 60 title The Lily of Testimony was perhaps a known song tune of the time (see note at Ps 22 title). On Miktam, see note at Ps 16 title. The additional term teaching indicates that this psalm had the purpose of instruction, although it is not specifically a wisdom psalm according to its form. The historical setting is quite specific about an incident in David’s life. This is found in 1Ch 18:3,12. As in other psalms with a specific setting (such as Ps 18), the language of the psalm is general enough to be applied in other contexts.

60:1 Rejected us . . . broken us . . . restore us indicates that this is a communal lament similar to Ps 44.

60:2 The shaking of the land could refer to an actual earthquake, though it can also represent the Lord’s power. In this case it is in the context of judgment on his people (see note at 18:7-15).

60:3 Drinking wine that makes one stagger is an image related to God’s judgment, usually represented by his “cup” (Is 51:17,22).

60:4 A signal flag is probably the same as a “banner,” which was used primarily in military campaigns (see note at 20:5).

60:5 The Lord’s right hand refers to his power that was demonstrated in his actions against his enemies and on behalf of his people (see note at 16:8).

60:6-8 The place names in these verses are probably used to represent the whole territory of Canaan, which was owned by the Lord and given to his people (see note at 10:16-18). Shechem was in the north (forty miles north of Jerusalem). Succoth was east of the Jordan River near the Jabbok River. Gilead and Manasseh were both on the eastern side of the Jordan, together extending from the south (the Arnon River) to the extreme north (the hill country of Ephraim). Moab . . . Edom, and Philistia were never a permanent part of Israel but represented the outer extremes of Israel’s territory to the east, south, and west, respectively. The helmet probably represents Ephraim’s military strength (Dt 33:17). Judah received God’s scepter, which was the right to rule over his kingdom (Gn 49:10).

60:9-10 The Lord no longer seemed to fight for his people (see note at 44:9-10; cp. 108:11-13).

60:11-12 Only with God did Israel have any hope to conquer her enemies because human weaponry and armies without God were worthless (see note at 20:7-8).