A plea of those cut off from the Lord
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¶ <<To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David,
to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab
returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.>>
O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again. |
The
long superscription gives us information about the purpose of the Psalm.
"Aramnaharim" is Mesopotamia as the word sounds in Hebrew. Used in ge2410.
"Aramzobah" has a similar origin. Both may have been kings of that area.
1 - Cast us off ... scattered A sad time for David who apparently lost a battle. Note that Joab, his general, "returned." Scattered is from a Hebrew word used for breaking through a battle line. |
| 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. |
Thou hast The words are repeated eight times in verses 1 to 4 expressing the powerful defeat as the will of God. |
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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. |
4 -
Given
a banner The Lord would bring victory, apparently fulfilled
at the hand of Joab.
4,5 - Banner ... beloved This may have been inspiration for Solomon in writing his "song of songs" which we know as the Song of Solomon. See so0610 although with a different Hebrew word for banner, and so0510. |
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¶ 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. |
6 -
Shechem
See on jos2401.
7 - Judah ... lawgiver Actually law-applier. Judah was Israel's seat of government. 8 - Washpot The Lord regarded Moab as a basin for washing feet. See the pot at je0113. |
| 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? |
9 - Strong city This was probably Sela, Edom's capital, now remembered as Petra. |
| 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. |
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