Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 61
PSAL. LXI.
TO the chief Muſician upon Neginah, &c.] Vincenti in melodiis Davidis. Vatab.It is probable that he made this Pſalm, when driven out of his Kingdom by his Son Abſolom, he took up at Mahanaim beyond Jordan, 2 Sam. 17.24. and therehence prayed from the ends of the earth, or rather of the land, verſ. 2. Howbeit R. Obadiah ſaith, that this Pſalm is De pugna cum Aram in confinibus Iſrael, concerning the battle with the Syrians in the borders of the Land. See 2 Sam. 10.14. &c. and 1 Chron. 19.16, amp;c.
Verſ. 1. Hear my cry, O God] Heb. My ſhouting, my ſad out-cry; for he was in great extremity, verſ. 2. and ſeeks eaſe by prayer. This is the way, Job 22.21. Philip. 4.6, 7. walk in it. Prayer hath Virtutem pacativam; it doth ſweetly ſettle the Soul, and lodge a bleſſed ſecurity in it.
Verſ. 2. From the end of the earth] Or, of the Land. In all places men may lift up holy hands,Sic dicit reſ pectu arae à quiexulabat longe in bello contra hoſtes. R. Sol. 1 Tim. 2.8. Job. 4.21. and ſpeed. A deſert may be a goodly Oratory.
When my heart is overwhelmed] Or, covered over, Vt fit in deliquiit & lipothimiis, as is uſual in ſwoones. See a like expreſſion, Pſal. 102. title, & Lam. 3.65. where the word rendred ſorrow of heart, ſignifieth ſuch a covering like a ſhield, ſuch a lid put over the heart, that is ſuffocated, as in the Cardica paſſio. Davids Harp was not more out of tune, than his heart ſometimes: He prayeth, and is helped.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I] i.e. Do for me that I cannot do for my ſelf; ſet me in ſafety.
Verſ. 3. For thou haſt been a ſhelter for me] Thou haſt, and therefore thou wilt, is an ordinary Scripture-medium, and well it may: for God is unchangeable, and his Decree for preſerving his people is (as the Poet ſaith well) foreign irrevocable.
Verſ. 4. I will abide in thy tabernacle] Et ſcribam mirabilia tua in memoriale, ſaith R. Obadiah by way of gloſs; And I will there regiſter up thy wonderful works. Or, I ſhall there worſhip thee, and do thee acceptable ſervice again, though for preſent I am baniſhed, or buſied abroad. He ſaith not, I ſhall abide in my Palace, but in thy tabernacle, which he more highly eſteemed. Some render it, I ſhall dwell in thy Tent, or Pavilion Royal, making it a metaphor from warfare, where thoſe that are in the Kings own Tent muſt needs be in greateſt ſafety. And this ſenſe ſuiteth well with the following words, I will truſt in the covert of thy wings.
Verſ. 5.Hinc Graeci precationem dicunt foreign For thou O God haſt heard my vows] i.e. My prayers, which had vows of thankfulneſs annexed unto them.
Thou haſt given me the heritage] Even the ſure mercies of David, grace and glory; and inheritance in the World to come, as the Chaldee hath it; beſides what we have here.
Verſ. 6. Thou wilt prolong the Kings life] The King Chriſt, ſaith the Chaldee, who ſhall ſee his ſeed, he ſhall prolong his days, and the pleaſure of the Lordſhall proſper in his hand. Iſa. 53.10. David himſelf alſo lived, and reigned longer than moſt Kings do, being old and full of days.
And his years as many generations] ſc. In his ſons and ſucceſſors. So Pſa. 72.17. Filiabitus nomine ejus. The name of Chriſt ſhall indure for ever, it ſhall be begotten as one generation is begotten of another, there ſhall bee a ſucceſſion of Chriſts name.
Verſ. 7. He ſhall abide before God for ever] Or, He ſhall ſit, viz. upon the Throne a long while in his perſon; but for ever in his Son Chriſt, Luke 1.32. and this affordeth ſweet and ſingular comfort to the whole Church, and each Member thereof; for as much as the dignity of a King cannot ſtand, unleſs his Subjects bee in ſafety.
O prepare mercy and truth which may preſerve him] Hos duos cuſtodes adhibe quibus unis innitatur. Let theſe two (thy Mercy and thy Truth) be the ſupporters of his Throne, let them be of his Life-guard, let them be his due, and prepared portion, as the Hebrew word Man here uſed ſignifieth. Some underſtand the words thus,Junius Furniſh the King with theſe two Vertues, Clemency and Truth, that thereby his Throne may be eſtabliſhed. See Prov. 20.28. & 29.14.
Verſ. 8. So will I ſing praiſe unto thy name for ever] Concluſio votiva. Praiſe is ſo pleaſing a ſervice to God, that he indenteth with his people for it, Pſal. 50.15. and they knowing his minde therein, do uſually reſtipulate that they will perform it; as holding it the leaſt that they in conſcience can do, and knowing it the moſt that they are able to do. They preſent it therefore to God, as that Grecian did his ſmall gift to Auguſtus, ſaying, foreign. If I had a better thing I could well beteem it thee.
That I may daily perform my vows] Which till they be paid, a true-hearted Votary is in pain: for he accounteth them due debts to God.