The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 16

EXPOSITION. explain it as" God himself" (see Ps. !xii. PSALM LXI. 2, 6, 7). " Let thy grace lead me to thee" Tms short psalm is one of much beauty, (Kay). and was sung dnily at Matins in the earliest Ver. 3.-For thou hast been a Shelter for ages of the Church. It is, however, some- me. In the past thou hast often been my "Shelter" or my "Refuge" (comp. Pos. what obscure, especially in its later portion, xviii. 2; xlvi. 7, 11; xlviii. 3, etc.); be so where a king is spoken of (ver. 6), who may once more. And a strong Tower. A 111igdal be David, or may represent David's house, -a fortress, like the great fortress of the or may be the Messiah, the " King " of south (E:s:oJ. :xiv. 2)-the Magdolus of Hero- Ps. ii. 6. The Davidical authorship, as- dotus (ii. Hfl). From the enemy. If the psalm is David's, "the enemy" is probably serted in the "title," is probable, though .Absnlom. some contend for a captive exile of a later Ver. 4.-1 will abide in th:, tabemaole date. The psalm consists of an earnest for ever. As the psalmist is in exile, at prayer (vers. 1, 2), followed by expressions "the end of the earth" (ver. 2), the literal of trust and confidence (vers. 3-7), and by " tabernacle" cannot be intendeJ. A spiri- tual C1biding in the heavenly dwelling, o. burst of praise in conclusion (ver. 8). whereof the tabernacle was a type, must be Metrically, it consists of two strophes of meant (comp. Ps. xviii. 11). I will trust in four verses ea.eh, separat!ld by the pause- the covert of thy wings (comp. Pss. xvii. 8; mark, "Selo.h." xx.xvi. 7 ; lvii. 1 ; b:iii. 7; xci. 4). The origin of the metaphor is ha.rdly to be sought Ver. 1.-Hear my cry, 0 God (see the in the outspread wings of the cherubim on comment on Ps. xvii. 1). The word rin11ah the mercy-seat; rather in the brooding wings expresses a shrill, piercing cry, but one of birds protecting and defending their which way be of joy or of lo.mentation. young (Deut. xnii. 11 ; Matt. :x:xiii. 37). Attend unto m:, prayer; i.e. "hear and Ver. 5.-For thou, 0 God, hast heard m:, answer it." vows. Thon bast heurd me so often in tba Ver. 2.-From the end of the earth will I past, thou has\ granted so mnny of my cry unto thee. Eastern hyperbole may rail rnyers, accepted so many of my vows, thC1t the Trnns-J ordo.nio territory "the end of the earth," but certainly the expression f nm emboldened to make further req nests. Thou hast given me the heritage of those would be more natural in the mouth of an that fear thy Name. All the blessed in• exile in Assyria, Media,or Babylon. When heritance of thy saints thou hast made mine, my heart ia overwhelmed; or, "when my anJ, included in it, boldness to approach heart fo.inteth" (comp. Ps. ovii. 5). Lead the throne of grace in full assumnce of me to the rook that is higher than I; ro.ther, faith, and to present to thee my petitions. that ia too high for me-that I cannot reach Ver. 6.-Thon wilt prolong (or, mayeat unaided. Some regard the " rook " as thou prolcmg) the king's life. The question Mount Zion; but others, more reasonably, arises-What king? Some answer that rSALMB-Il, Q  18 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB. T,XT, 1-8. ----------------------------------- D11vid prn.y11 for the extension of his own tion1; or, '" generation and genem!ion; i.o. liFe ; or, if not eirnrtly of his own life, then eternRlly <'Ontinuous. for the prolongation of his dynasty upon Ver. 7.-Ho sho.11 abide (or, may he abirlff) the throne (Hc-ngstenherg); others suggest before God. for ever : 0 prepara mercy and thnt a distant exile, perhaps in Assyril\, truth, which may preaorve him; liternlly prars for the life of the rdgning King of appofot that mercy and truth. may preserv; Judnh, Josiah probably (' Four Friends,' him. Let "mercy a.nd truth," the highest p. lli); but the Messinnic interpretation is of thy nttributes, preservo him, o.nd keep prrhaps the lx>st. The writer, liftc.d up him in life for ever. nbove himself 11nd above sublunary things, Ver. 8,-So will I sing praise unto thy abiding, AS he does, in the spiritno.l taber- Name for ever. This, if thou doest, then I, DR<'!e under the shelter of God's "'ings for my part, so long 11s I have my being, (ver. 4), prnys for long continua.nee of dnys will pro.ise thy Nnme, thua performing day for the true King, the ides! King, MessiRh, by day what I have vowed. The writer's of whom Do.vid and his house Are types: oontinunnce in life, n.nd retonticn of con- "l\fayest thou add da.ys to the dnys of the sciousn&s, though not actually asserted. is King," nud make his years aa many genera- implied.