“To the chief musician, on Shushan (lily) of testimony, Michtam of David to teach; when he strove with Syria of Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah, and Joab returned and smote Edom in the valley of salt, twelve thousand. O God, thou -hast cast us off, thou hast rent us, thou hast been angry; turn again to us. Thou hast made earth (or the land) to tremble, thou hast rent it: heal its breaches, for it shaketh. Thou hast shown thy people hard things, thou hast made us drink the wine of reeling. Thou hast given to those that fear thee a banner to be raised because of the truth. Selah. That thy beloved may be delivered, save [with] thy right hand and answer me (or us). God hath spoken in his holiness: I will exult; I will divide Shechem, and the valley of Succoth will I mete out. Gilead [is] mine, and mine Manasseh, Ephraim the strength of my head, Judah my lawgiver (or scepter?). Moab [is] my washpot; on Edom will I cast my shoe; on me, Philistia, shout aloud. Who will bring me [to] the city of defense? Who hath led me up to Edom? (Is it) not thou, O God, (who) hast cast us off and didst not go forth, O God, with our hosts? Give us help from trouble, for vain [is] man's salvation. Through (lit. in) God we shall do valiantly; and he will tread down our troubles” (ver. 1-14).
In this fine psalm, the fitting close of its series, God's temporary rejection of His people is felt and acknowledged frankly. Yet they cleave to His calling them, and while justifying Him in His displeasure and sore chastening, they see, for those that fear, a banner to be raised for truth which He gave them. Hence their bold challenge even in their lowest state, as well as their identification with the whole elect nation and all the land. The God who restores is the more surely theirs against all their foes and oppressors; and man once leaned on is seen to be but vanity.