Psalms 61:7

_FOR THOU, O GOD, HAST HEARD MY VOWS: THOU HAST GIVEN ME THE HERITAGE OF THOSE THAT FEAR THY NAME._ -Ground of his confidence-namely, the prophetic Word of God (2 Samuel 7:1), which guarantees to him eternal dominion. Verse 5. FOR THOU, O GOD, HAST HEARD MY VOWS - i:e., my payers mixed with vows of thanksgiving. His prayers were what drew forth the promise of God by Nathan (2 Samuel 7:1; Psalms 21:2). THOU HAST GIVEN (ME) THE HERITAGE OF THOSE THAT FEAR THY NAME. "The heritage" is explained in Psalms 61:6 the prolongation of the king's life, and the abiding kingdom of his posterity over Canaan, the land

7._He shall abide before the face of God for ever. _This is only a simpler way of expressing what he had said before, _I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever_. He refers to the security and peace which he would enjoy under the protection of God, who would effectually preserve his life. By _the face of God, _must be meant the fatherly care and providence which he extends to his people. So numerous are the dangers which surround us, that we could not stand a single moment, if his eye did not watch over our preservation. But the true security for a happy life lies in being persuaded that we are under divine government. There follows a prayer that God would _appoint mercy and truth _for preserving the king. And this admits of two meanings. As clemency and truth are the best safeguards of a kingdom, it would not be altogether unreasonable to suppose that David prays here to be endued with th...

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; those who do so, shall abide before him for ever. And these words are to be applied to Him of whom the angel said, the Lord shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and of his kingdom there shall be no end, Luke 1:32. God's promises, and our faith in them, are not to do away, but to encourage prayer. We need not desire to be better secured than under the protection of God's mercy and truth. And if we partake of that grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ, we may praise him, whatever be our out...

Verse Psalms 61:7. _HE SHALL ABIDE BEFORE GOD FOR EVER_] Literally, "He shall sit for ever before the faces of God." He shall ever appear in the presence of God for us. And he ever _sits at the right hand_ _of the Majesty on high_; for he undertook this office after having, by his sacrificial offering, made atonement for our sins. _PREPARE MERCY AND TRUTH_, WHICH _MAY PRESERVE HIM._] As _Mediator_, his attendants will ever be _mercy_ and _truth_. He will dispense the _mercy_ of God, and thus fulfil the _truth_ of the various promises and predictions which had preceded his incarnation. There is an obscurity in this clause, חסד ואמת מן ינצרהו _chesed veemeth man_ _yintseruhu_, owing to the particle מן _man_, which some translate _who_ or _what_; and others, _number thou_, from מנ

HE SHALL ABIDE BEFORE GOD FOR EVER - That is, perpetually; without danger of change, or of being driven into exile. This may allude, however, to the hope which David had that he would always live with God in a higher world - a world where there would be no danger of change or banishment. His restoration to his home, to his throne, and to the privileges of the sanctuary, he may have regarded as an emblem of his ultimate reception into a peaceful heaven, and his mind may have glanced rapidly from the one to the other. On earth, after his restoration, he would have no fear that he would be banished again; in heaven, of which such a restoration might be regarded as an emblem, there could be no change, no exile. O PREPARE MERCY AND TRUTH - literally, divide, or divide out; then, allot or appoint; and then, make ready or prepare. The prayer is, that God would measure out to him, or impart to h...

EXPOSITION This short psalm is one of much beauty, and was sung daily at Matins in the earliest ages of the Church. It is, however, somewhat obscure, especially in its later portion, where a king is spoken of (Psalms 61:6), who may be David, or may represent David's house, or may be the Messiah, the "King" of Psalms 2:6. The Davidical authorship, asserted in the "title," is probable, though some contend for a captive exile of a later date. The psalm consists of an earnest prayer (Psalms 2:1, Psalms 2:2), followed by expressions of trust and confidence (Psalms 2:3

HE SHALL ABIDE BEFORE GOD FOR EVER,.... Or "sit" b; or "may he sit". Being raised from the dead he was received up to heaven into the presence of God, and sat down at his right hand; where he abides for ever, a Priest upon his throne, having an unchangeable priesthood, Hebrews 7:24; AND PREPARE MERCY AND TRUTH, [WHICH] MAY PRESERVE HIM; which, if literally understood of David, is a prayer that the Lord would show him favour and kindness, and perform his promises to him, whereby his life would be preserved from the plots and, conspiracies of his enemies, and his kingdom be established; or that he might be exalted to exercise mercy towards his subjects, and administer justice, or execute the judgment of truth among them; which would make for the preservation of his person, and the support of his throne and government,...

PSALM 61-68 Psalms 61 The Identification of the King with His People _ 1. His cry and their cry (Psalms 61:1)_ 2. His answer and exaltation (Psalms 61:5) The following eight Psalms are grouped together leading up again to the final deliverance of Israel and the glory of the Lord. The question in connection with this Psalm is, who is the king whose years shall be from generations to generations, that is forever, who shall abide in God's presence forever? The ancient Jewish Targum says it is King Messiah, which is the true answer. This is the key to this Psalm. The King, Christ, is seen as identified with the remnant. He walked on earth trusting, having as the dependent Man His shelter in God

LXI. The Psalmist prays from the end of the earth in the confidence that God will protect him. He expresses his desire to dwell in the Temple and ends with a prayer for the king. The Exile is presupposed: further we have no clue to the date except in the mention of the king (see on Psalms 20). We may add, however, that this king seems to be high priest also, for he is to dwell in the tabernacle (Psalms 61:4) and to abide before God (Psalms 61:7). This suits later Maccabean times, but scarcely any other period after the Exile. PSALMS 61:2_ b._ The LXX, with a different text, translates, Thou hast exalted me on a rock: thou hast led me. Jerome, with the present text, translates, When the strong man shall be exalted

ABIDE. remain [enthroned]. PREPARE. number, or appoint, as in Jonah 1:17. MERCY. lovingkindness, or grace....