Psalm 60 (59):4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What concerns the earth? It is the awareness in the hearts of sinners. Where are we heading? Where do we seek refuge when the sword is raised, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand"? (Matthew 3:2) Restore his wounds, for he has been impacted. Unfit for healing if not shaken; yet You speak, You proclaim, You warn us of God, revealing the impending judgment without remaining silent, cautioning us about the commandments of the Lord, holding back from none of these truths. Yet, the one who listens and is not afraid, who is not moved, is not deserving of healing. Conversely, the one who hears and is grieved, who feels the sting, beats his breast, and weeps...

You have disturbed the earth and left it bewildered. This refers to Jerusalem, as it faced siege and the destruction of its temple. Alternatively, it may signify their spiritual condition, which was unsettled after God had withdrawn His favor. Mend its afflictions, for it has been unsettled. Once more, He recounts the occurrences that befell the Jewish people.

The earth trembled, and You disturbed it. This symbolizes the invasions by the Assyrians and Babylonians, who, akin to an earthquake, laid waste to all in their path. Following this, he intercedes for humanity. Restore her fractured state, for she is in turmoil.

The Lord has disturbed and unsettled our world, which reflects our very beings, by providing us with a spiritual weapon (Hebrews 4:12) that judiciously discerns good from evil. This divine sword elevates the law of the Spirit over the law of the flesh, establishing within us an honorable battle against our desires. It disrupts their heavy presence, leading our consciences to confront unsuitable recollections. Furthermore, through the process of spiritual renewal in grace, it mends the fractures of the heart that have developed after the initial fall and turmoil brought on by disobedience and the transgression of the command given in Eden.

You have caused the earth to tremble and brought about its unrest. In mentioning shaking and turmoil, David illustrates the devastation experienced by the land of Israel and its cities, alongside the looting and chaos inflicted upon the people by the Babylonians during their conquest of Jerusalem. Restore her wounds, for she has been shaken. After referring to the earthquake earlier, David continues to address the consequences of this upheaval, highlighting the ruin and collapse of homes and cities, symbolizing the downfall and devastation of Jerusalem.

At the conclusion of the law, which is fulfilled in Christ for all who believe in righteousness, and at the culmination of time, this psalm is meant to be sung to eternal glory and divine reverence. Those who seek transformation move from the old self to the new, emerging from darkness into light, as they who once dwelled in darkness now shine as lights in the Lord. This imagery of the pillar signifies that the magnificent humanity of God, as revealed through Christ, deserves to be inscribed upon pillars and etched in our hearts for everlasting remembrance. The Holy Spirit inspired David with this psalm to instruct him to guide everyone in giving thanks to God and praising Him for His incomprehensible blessings upon humanity.