Psalm 61
לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ עַֽל נְגִינַ֬ת לְדָוִֽד
BSB
You Have Heard My Vows
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. Of David.
1Hear my cry, O God;
attend to my prayer.
2From the ends of the earth I call out to You
whenever my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I.
3For You have been my refuge,
a tower of strength against the enemy.
4Let me dwell in Your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.
Selah
5For You have heard my vows, O God;
You have given me the inheritance
reserved for those who fear Your name.
6Increase the days of the king’s life;
may his years span many generations.
7May he sit enthroned in God’s presence forever;
appoint Your loving devotion
and Your faithfulness to guard him.
8Then I will ever sing praise to Your name
and fulfill my vows day by day.
Introduction
Psalms 61
David, in this psalm, as in many others, begins with a sad heart, but concludes with an air of pleasantness - begins with prayers and tears, but ends with songs of praise. Thus the soul, by being lifted up to God, returns to the enjoyment of itself. It should seem David was driven out and banished when he penned this psalm, wether by Saul or Absalom is uncertain: some think by Absalom, because he calls himself "the king" (Psa 61:6), but that refers to the King Messiah. David, in this psalm, resolves to persevere in his duty, encouraged thereto both by his experience an by his expectations. I. He will call upon God because God had protected him (Psa 61:1-3). II. He will call upon God because God had provided well for him (Psa 61:4, Psa 61:5). III. He will praise God because he had an assurance of the continuance of God's favour to him (Psa 61:6-8). So that, in singing this psalm, we may find that which is very expressive both of our faith and of our hope, of our prayers and of our praises; and some passages in this psalm are very peculiar.
To the chief musician upon Neginah. A psalm of David.
Cross-references: Ps 61:6 · Ps 61:1 · Ps 61:4 · Ps 61:5