Psalms 61
HAWEISPsalms 61:1-4
David in this psalm, as in many others, begins with prayer, and ends with praise. It seems penned during his troubles under Alfalom, when he fled to the farthest part of the land to save his life, and to it, ver. 6. effected regard seems to be had to that Messiah, whom in his sufferings be represented. He rejoices, 1. To call upon God, because God had provoked him, ver. 1—3. 2. Receive God had provoked well for him, ver. 4, 5. 3. To praise God, because he had an assurance of the continuance of God’s faveur to him, ver. 6, 7, 8. To the chief musician upon Neginal, A psalm of David. 1. HEAR my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer. 2. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4. I will abide in thy tabernacle: for ever: I will trust in the covers of thy wings. Selah. The word Neginal in the title, seems to be the musical instrument to which the psalm was set. In it, 1. David looks up to God in his troubles; Hear my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth, the farthest part of Judea, whether he had fled for safety, will I cry unto thee, earnestly, aloud, impertunately, when my heart is overwhelmed with trouble and anguish of whatever kind; all my complaints will I pour out, into thy compaillessate bosom: lead me to the rock that is higher than I, to a place of present safety, but especially to the rock of ages, the promised Messiah, the hope of his afflicted people. Note, (1.) Wherever we are, a throne of grace is open, and the more we are removed from other means, the more diligent ought we to be in secret prayer. (2.) The souls of the faithful are sometimes overwhelmed with the sense of sin, with afflictive providences, with fore temptasions, and ready to sink under their burden, but when most distressed, they fly to God, and find him a very present help in trouble. (3.) There is, blessed be God, a rock higher than we, on which, if placed, we need not fear what earth or hell can do against us. (4.) Every day we need cry to God, to fix us more securely on this rare foundation, Jesus Christ. 2. From past experience, he is encouraged to expect present help. Thus hast been a psalm, or a tower for me, and a strong tower from the enemy; therefore in humble hope of the same needful protection, I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever; now taking refuge under thy protection, hoping shortly to return to the tabernacle in Sion, and by and by to go to that heavenly hill, where God’s glory is ever visible to his dares; and I will trust in the covers of thy wings, confident of safety there, when every prospect around me is most dark and threatening. Note, (1.) We should often remember what God hath done for us, as an argument to encourage our hearts to hope for greater mercies. (2.) They are false, whom God’s almighty power gathers under his wing. (3.) If we abide faithful and constant in his worship and service beside, we may comfortably look forward to an eternal mansion, in his better tabernacle above. 5. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. 6. Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations. 7. He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth which may preserve him. 8. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.
Psalms 61:5-8
David having trusted himself with God, 1. Regards his prayer as already heard and delivered, and his vows of praise already due, because of the certainty of the promised mercy. Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name, either the inheritance of Israel, or his portion in a better country, that is, an heavenly; and this he regards as already bestowed, hereinafter as the covenant of promise is sure to all the seed, and he had comfortable certainty of being of that blessed number, who feared God, and trusted in his salvation. Note, They who are under the influence of holy fear, will never fail, nor come short of the heritage laid up for them in glory. 2. He expresses his confidence of present salvation. His life,
Psalms 61:6
though so thrilled after, shall be preferred amidst every danger, and prolonged for God’s glory, and the people’s good: or probably he looks farther, to the King Messiah, the prospect of whose glorious kingdom and approaching day, was his delight and joy. His life should be long, and his years as many generations, even coeval with the days of eternity; fear he shall abide before God for ever. Note, Since Jesus ever lives and reigns, his people may confidently expect to live and reign with him in glory everlasting. 3. He offers up his prayers, and engages for continual praise. O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him, King David, on his throne, according to the mercy and faithfulness of God in his promises, or the Son of David, whose kingdom is established and preferred, according to the mercy and truth of God, in the everlasting covenant. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, make it my daily happy service here below, and my eternal employment shortly above, that I may daily perform my
my town, in those continual grateful acknowledgments for mercies to unfeasibly great and gracious. Note, (1.) If we are interested in God’s covenant of promise, he will take care of our stability. (2.) They who expect to spend eternity in God’s unwearing praise, will daily here below begin to exercise themselves in this delightful employment.