Verse 3. Thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment - We reel as drunken men; we are giddy, like those who have drank too much wine; but our giddiness has been occasioned by the astonishment and dismay that have taken place in consequence of the prevalence of our enemies, and the unsettled state of the land. It has been remarked that the three first verses of this Psalm do not agree with the rest, and it also appears that the three first verses of Psa. lxxxv. do not agree with the rest of that Psalm. But let them change places, and the three first verses of this be set instead of the three first verses of Psa lxxxv., and let those be placed here instead of these and then the whole of each Psalm will be consistent. This was first suggested by Bishop Hare, and the supposition seems to be well founded.
Some imagine that the whole of the Psalm refers to the distracted state of the land after the death of Saul till the time that David was anointed king over all Israel, at Hebron; others, to the disastrous war with the Syrians. See before.
Verses 1-5 - David owns God's displeasure to be the cause of all the hardships he had undergone. And when God is turning his hand in our favour, it is good to remember our former troubles. In God's displeasure their troubles began, therefore in his favour their prosperity must begin Those breaches and divisions which the folly and corruption of ma make, nothing but the wisdom and grace of God can repair, by pourin out a spirit of love and peace, by which only a kingdom is saved from ruin. The anger of God against sin, is the only cause of all misery private or public, that has been, is, or shall be. In all these case there is no remedy, but by returning to the Lord with repentance faith, and prayer; beseeching him to return to us. Christ, the Son of David, is given for a banner to those that fearGod; in him they ar gathered together in one, and take courage. In his name and strengt they wage war with the powers of darkness.
