Annotations Upon the Books of Poetry, Psalms · Psalm 61
PSALM LXI.
Verſ. 1. HEar my cry, O God, &c.] Severall expoſitours hold that this Pſalm was compoſed by David, as a prayer of the people of God: but I ſee no convincing reaſon, why it may not be as well underſtood as ſpoken by him in his own name.
Verſ. 2. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed, &c.] To wit, with fear, care and ſorrow: ſee the Note 2 Sam. 15.30. For becauſe here verſ. 6. he ſtiles himſelf king, it may ſeem moſt probable that this Pſalm was compoſed when he was fled from Abſalom even unto Mahanaim, which was in the utmoſt borders of the land without Jordan, 2 Sam. 17.24: and though thereupon many expoſitours hold, that the firſt clauſe ſhould be tranſlated, from the end of the land will I cry unto thee; yet I ſhould rather think that it may purpoſely be expreſſed in thoſe words, from the end of the earth, to imply, that although he ſhould be driven not only to the end of the land, but to the end of the earth, yet even from thence he would cry to God for help: ſee the Note Pſal 42.6. Lead me to the rock that is higher then I; that is, which is ſo high above me, that I of my ſelf am not able to climbe up to it; meaning this, Do thou bring me into an eſtate of more ſure ſafety, then I by any power or forces of mine am able to attain.
Verſ. 4. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever, &c.] Though there be in theſe words a clear promiſe, that when God ſhould bring him back again to Jeruſalem, he would conſtantly worſhip God in his Tabernacle, concerning which ſee the Note Pſal. 23.6: yet I conceive the chief thing intended therein is, to imply that he doubted not, but doing ſo, he ſhould there find ſure and conſtant protection, ſee the Note Pſal. 27.5. which is farther explained in the next clauſe, I will truſt in the covert of thy wings, for which ſee the Notes Ruth 2.12. Pſal. 17.8, and 57.1.
Verſ. 5. For thou, O God, haſt heard my vows; &c.] That is, my prayers, which with vows annexed I offered up unto thee; thou haſt given me the heritage of thoſe that fear thy name; that is, thoſe preſent and future bleſſings, which are the peculiar portion of thoſe that truly fear God, and wherein the men of the world have no ſhare at all, as the love and favour of God &c. Others conceive that this heritage of thoſe that fear Gods name, given to David, was either the enjoyment of Gods holy ordinances in his tabernacle, which indeed the faithfull did eſteem their choiceſt heritage, and whereof he had ſpoken in the foregoing verſe, I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever; or elſe the quiet poſſeſſion of the land of Canaan, which God had promiſed to his people, and which was indeed never conferred upon them in the largeſt extent thereof till the daies of David, but now was given to him, in regard of the government thereof, and to his ſeed after him.
Verſ. 6. Thou wilt prolong the kings life, and his yeares as many generations.] See the Note Pſal. 21.4.
Verſ. 7. He shall abide before God for ever, &c.] That is, He ſhall conſtantly enjoy Gods favour and protection: ſee the Note above verſ. 4. and likewiſe Pſal. 56.13. But underſtanding it of Chriſt, it may be meant of his appearing in the preſence of God for us, Heb. 9.24. O prepare mercy and truth, which may preſerve him; that is, Furniſh him with thoſe graces which are wont to preſerve both the perſons and thrones of princes, to wit, mercy and compaſſion, truth and equity and upright dealing; according to that of Solomon Prov. 29.14. The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be eſtablished for ever; ſee the Note Pſal. 45.4: or elſe rather, Provide means for his preſervation out of thy mercy and faithfulneſſe to him.
Verſ 8. So will I ſing praiſe unto thy name for ever, &c.] See the Note Pſal. 34.1: that I may dayly perform my vows, namely, my vows of praiſe and thankſgiving; for they only can be dayly performed. And herein he referres to what he had ſaid before verſ. 5. for thou, O God, hast heard my vows.