1And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts. 3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. 4And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went. 7And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass. 9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, 10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: 11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; 12 of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men. 14And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went. 15And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people. 16And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 17and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; 18and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief rulers.
Psalm 60
To the chief Musician upon Shushan-eduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand. 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 shewed 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 with Thy right hand, and hear me. 6 God hath spoken in His holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. 7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver; 8 Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me. 9 Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me into Edom? 10 Wilt not Thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? And Thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies? 11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. 12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Meditation
At first reading, Psalm 60 does not seem to relate to the referenced events as described in the historical books of Samuel and Chronicles. In Samuel, with David now king over all Israel, we read of victory after victory. On the other hand, Psalm 60 begins by describing a people cast off and scattered. In rightly understanding this psalm it is helpful to again consider the character of the five books of the psalms. This psalm, as with the previous one considered, is in the second book. While these psalms speak of the remnant driven from the land, and in particular Jerusalem, they also take us as far as the millennial reign of righteousness and peace. (In fact the book concludes with this: see psalm 72.) The first five verses of Psalm 60 speak of the circumstances leading up to David’s reign and his victories. These incidents are described in the books of Samuel where we read of the reign of Saul, the willful king, and the divided kingdom under David and Ishbosheth. There were breaches; they had surely drunk the wine of astonishment (vss. 2-3). But now David (vs. 4), answering to “that root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign [banner] of the people” (Isa. 11:10), stands forth as a type of the true Jehovah-Nissi, that is to say, Jehovah my Banner (Ex. 17:15).
No matter whether it is Moses or David in a past day, the remnant in a future day, or ourselves in this present day, this psalm teaches us that God alone gives us the victory over our enemies. The help of man is vain (vss. 11-12). “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57). Although this verse especially refers to the victory that is ours over death through our Lord Jesus Christ, we are also encouraged by it when we confront those other enemies in our lives.
It is quite remarkable to observe that Psalm 108 consists of the latter portions of Psalms 57 and Psalm 60. Psalm 57:7-117My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. 8Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. 9I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. 10For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. 11Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth. (Psalm 57:7‑11) corresponds to Psalm 108:1-51<<A Song or Psalm of David.>> O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. 2Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. 3I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. 4For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. 5Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth; (Psalm 108:1‑5), and Psalm 60:5-12 corresponds to Psalm 108:6-136That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me. 7God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. 8Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver; 9Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph. 10Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom? 11Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts? 12Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. 13Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. (Psalm 108:6‑13). Its character is most suited to the fifth book in which it falls. In this book the tribulation is over; the Beast and Antichrist are judged, Israel is back in the land, and Jehovah is again seen as dwelling in Zion. It is a new dawning; the psalm is a song of praise and victory.