Psalms 60:2

2 Thou hast made the land to quake, thou hast rent it open; repair its breaches, for it totters.

Psalms 60:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 60:2

Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it
As is frequently done by an earthquake; which, whatever natural causes there may be of it, is always to be ascribed to God. The ancient Heathens ^F13 were of opinion that all earthquakes were of God. This respects not the whole earth, but the land of Israel only; and so the Targum,

``thou hast moved the land of Israel, thou hast shaken and rent it;''

and it does not design a natural earthquake in it, but a figurative one; a shaking and rending of their civil and church state; see ( Hebrews 12:26 Hebrews 12:27 ) ;

heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh;
which will be done in the latter day, when they shall return into their own land, and be restored as at the beginning, ( Isaiah 30:30 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 A. Gell. Noct. Attic. l. 2. c. 28.

Psalms 60:2 In-Context

1 To the choirmaster: according to Shushan Eduth. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return killed twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt. O God, thou hast rejected us, broken our defenses; thou hast been angry; oh, restore us.

2 Thou hast made the land to quake, thou hast rent it open; repair its breaches, for it totters.

3 Thou hast made thy people suffer hard things; thou hast given us wine to drink that made us reel.

4 Thou hast set up a banner for those who fear thee, to rally to it from the bow. [Selah]

5 That thy beloved may be delivered, give victory by thy right hand and answer us!