King James Version
Psalms 61
8 verses with commentary
Lead Me to the Rock
To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.</strong> This opening verse establishes the psalm as urgent appeal to God for hearing and attention. "Hear my cry" (<em>shim'ah Elohim rinati</em>, שִׁמְעָה אֱלֹהִים רִנָּתִי) uses the imperative form—direct command to God: "Hear! Listen! Pay attention!" This isn't hesitant request but urgent, forceful appeal. <em>Shama</em> means to hear with att...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9. Hide not, &c.--**(Psa 4:6; 22:24). Against rejection he pleads former mercy and love.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 61
Chapter Outline
David seeks God upon former experience.(1-4)
He vows to serve God.(5-8)
**Verses 1-4**
David begins with prayers and tears, but ends with praise. Thus the soul, being lifted up to God, returns to the enjoyment of itself. Wherever we are, we have liberty to draw near to God, and may find a way open to the throne of grace. And that which separates us from...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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.</strong> This verse describes David's desperate circumstances and urgent need for divine guidance. "From the end of the earth" (<em>miqtseh ha'aretz</em>, מִקְצֵה הָאָרֶץ) uses spatial metaphor to express extreme distance, remoteness, and separation. <em>Qatseh</em> mean...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **From the end. of the earth . . .**—A hyperbolic expression for a great distance. Isaiah (Isaiah 5:26) uses the expression of Assyria, and it would be natural in an exile’s mouth, but must not be pressed to maintain any theory of the psalm’s date.
**When my heart is overwhelmed.**—Literally, *in the covering of my heart, *the verb being used (Psalm 65:13) of the valleys covered with corn, and...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
10. In the extremity of earthly destitution (Psa 31:11; 38:11), God provides (compare Mt 25:35).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 61
Chapter Outline
David seeks God upon former experience.(1-4)
He vows to serve God.(5-8)
**Verses 1-4**
David begins with prayers and tears, but ends with praise. Thus the soul, being lifted up to God, returns to the enjoyment of itself. Wherever we are, we have liberty to draw near to God, and may find a way open to the throne of grace. And that which separates us from...
Read full commentary →For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.</strong> This verse provides the basis for David's confident appeal in verses 1-2. "For" (<em>ki</em>, כִּי) introduces the reason: David appeals to God because God has proven Himself faithful in past deliverances. This demonstrates crucial principle: remembering God's past faithfulness strengthens faith during present...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **A strong tower.**—Comp. Proverbs 18:10.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**11. thy way--**of providence.
**a plain path--**(Psa 26:12).
**enemies--**literally, "watchers for my fall" (Psa 5:8).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 61
Chapter Outline
David seeks God upon former experience.(1-4)
He vows to serve God.(5-8)
**Verses 1-4**
David begins with prayers and tears, but ends with praise. Thus the soul, being lifted up to God, returns to the enjoyment of itself. Wherever we are, we have liberty to draw near to God, and may find a way open to the throne of grace. And that which separates us from...
Read full commentary →I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. trust: or, make my refuge
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.</strong> This verse expresses David's deepest longing—permanent dwelling in God's presence. "I will abide" (<em>agurah</em>, אָגוּרָה) means to sojourn, dwell, remain, lodge. The root <em>gur</em> often describes foreigners dwelling temporarily in a land. Paradoxically, David expresses desire to dwell ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **I will abide.**—Rather, *Let me be a guest in, *etc. (Comp. Psalm 15:1; Psalm 27:4.)
**Thy tabernacle . . .**—It is difficult to decide whether this indicates. the Mosaic tabernacle, and so may be used as an index of the date of the poem; or whether the tent is a general figure for the protection of God, wherever it may be found. It certainly recalls Psalm 23:6.
**For ever.**—Literally, for ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**12. will--**literally, "soul," "desire" (Psa 35:25).
**enemies--**literally, "oppressors." Falsehood aids cruelty against him.
**breathe out--**as being filled with it (Ac 9:1).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 61
Chapter Outline
David seeks God upon former experience.(1-4)
He vows to serve God.(5-8)
**Verses 1-4**
David begins with prayers and tears, but ends with praise. Thus the soul, being lifted up to God, returns to the enjoyment of itself. Wherever we are, we have liberty to draw near to God, and may find a way open to the throne of grace. And that which separates us from...
Read full commentary →For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
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KJV Study Commentary
God's hearing of vows indicates accepted worship and answered prayer. The 'heritage of those that fear thy name' is covenant identity and blessing. This verse links David's personal experience to the broader community of the faithful, showing individual deliverance participates in corporate covenant promises. Fear of God's name demonstrates reverence yielding intimacy.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **Heritage.**—As the Authorised Version runs, the *heritage *is length of days, one promised generally to those who fear Jehovah (Proverbs 10:27; Proverbs 19:23), and particularly to Israel (Deuteronomy 6:2) and its kings (Deuteronomy 17:19-20, which passage may have been in the psalmist’s mind). But the LXX. and Vulg. read, “*to *them that fear thy name,” meaning, of course, by the heritage, ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
13. The strong emotion is indicated by the incomplete sentence, for which the English Version supplies a proper clause; or, omitting that, and rendering, "yet I believed," &c., the contrast of his faith and his danger is expressed.
**to see--**is to experience (Psa 22:17).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 5-8**
There is a people in the world that fear God's name. There is a heritage peculiar to that people; present comforts in the soul, earnests of future bliss. Those that fear God have enough in him, and must not complain. We need desire no better heritage than that of those who fear God. Those abide to good purpose in this world, who abide before God, serve him, and walk in his fear;...
Read full commentary →Thou wilt prolong the king's life : and his years as many generations. Thou: Heb. Thou shalt add days to the days of the king as: Heb. as generation and generation
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KJV Study Commentary
The prayer for the king's prolonged life ('years as many generations') anticipates the eternal dynasty promised to David (2 Samuel 7:16). While David's physical reign was temporal, this prophetically points to the Messiah's eternal reign. Each earthly king's reign is shadow, with Christ the substance—His years truly are 'as many generations' (Hebrews 7:24).
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) See margin, and render as a prayer.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**14. Wait, &c.--**in confident expectation. The last clause is, literally, "and wait," &c., as if expecting new measures of help.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 5-8**
There is a people in the world that fear God's name. There is a heritage peculiar to that people; present comforts in the soul, earnests of future bliss. Those that fear God have enough in him, and must not complain. We need desire no better heritage than that of those who fear God. Those abide to good purpose in this world, who abide before God, serve him, and walk in his fear;...
Read full commentary →He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
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KJV Study Commentary
The king abiding before God forever, preserved by mercy and truth, links David's temporal reign to eternal covenant. The Hebrew 'chesed' (mercy/lovingkindness) and 'emet' (truth/faithfulness) are covenant attributes (Exodus 34:6). These preserve not by human effort but divine character, anticipating Christ who embodies both grace and truth (John 1:14).
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **He shall abide.**—Better, *may he sit enthroned.*
**Prepare.**—Rather, *appoint. *But the LXX. had a different reading, and an ingenious emendation has been suggested from a comparison with Psalm 40:11, viz., “let mercy and truth continually preserve him.”
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
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Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 5-8**
There is a people in the world that fear God's name. There is a heritage peculiar to that people; present comforts in the soul, earnests of future bliss. Those that fear God have enough in him, and must not complain. We need desire no better heritage than that of those who fear God. Those abide to good purpose in this world, who abide before God, serve him, and walk in his fear;...
Read full commentary →So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.</strong> This concluding verse ties together the entire psalm with a vow of perpetual worship. "So" (<em>ken</em>, כֵּן) indicates consequence or result: "thus, therefore, in this manner." Based on everything previously stated—God's hearing, leading, sheltering, protecting—David commits to lifelong worship resp...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
PSALM 28 Psa 28:1-9. An earnest cry for divine aid against his enemies, as being also those of God, is followed by the Psalmist's praise in assurance of a favorable answer, and a prayer for all God's people.
**1. my rock--**(Psa 18:2, 31).
**be not silent to me--**literally, "from me," deaf or inattentive.
**become like them, &c.--**share their fate.
**go down into the pit--**or, "grave...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 5-8**
There is a people in the world that fear God's name. There is a heritage peculiar to that people; present comforts in the soul, earnests of future bliss. Those that fear God have enough in him, and must not complain. We need desire no better heritage than that of those who fear God. Those abide to good purpose in this world, who abide before God, serve him, and walk in his fear;...
Read full commentary →