1David encouraged by former experience fleeth to God in prayer: 4he voweth perpetual service unto him because of past, and in prospect of future, mercies.
0To the chief Musician upon 1Neginah, A Psalm of David.
1 Of the Hebrew word, which is used here in the singular number, see the second annotation at Psalm 4 in the title.
1HEAR my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
2From the 2end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is 3overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is 4higher than I.
2 Or, from the most distant, to which he was forced to flee because of Absalom, 2 Sam. 17:24, to which some apply this psalm.
3 Or, covered over, namely, with fear, trouble, care and heaviness. Compare Psalm 77:3; Psalm 102 in the title; Psalm 107:5; 142:3; 143:4. Likewise Lam. 2:11, 12, 19.
4 That is, into a safe place of retreat, to which I shall not be able to get in or up without Thy help and power.
3For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a 5strong tower 6from the enemy.
5 Hebr. tower of strength.
6 Hebr. from the face of the enemy, that is, to secure, safeguard and protect me before or against mine enemy.
4I will abide in thy 7tabernacle for ever: I will 8trust in the 9covert of thy wings. 10Selah.
7 That is, in Thy holy tabernacle for a long time, and afterward in heaven, whereof the tabernacle was but a type, to all eternity. See on verse 5.
8 Or, have refuge.
9 Which the Scripture elsewhere declares by the shadow of the wings. See Ruth 2 on verse 12; Psalm 57:1.
10 See Psalm 3 on verse 2.
5For thou, O God, hast heard my 11vows: thou hast given me the 12heritage of those that fear thy name.
11 That is, my prayers, which I presented unto Thee with vows of thankfulness, according to the custom of the saints. See Gen. 28:20; Judges 11:30, 31; Psalm 116:18; 132:2 and below verse 8.
12 He reflects upon the land of Canaan, over which God had ordained him as king with promises of His protection; being confident that He would not cast him out of it, much less out of the inheritance of the celestial Canaan, whereof the earthly here was but a pledge and figure. See Heb. 11:8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16.
6Thou wilt 13prolong 14the 15king’s life: and his years as 16many generations.
13 Or, wilt add, by way of prayer; and so in the sequel.
14 Or, above, or upon the king’s life.
15 Understanding himself (notwithstanding the intention of the enemy to take away his life) and especially the Lord Christ, his Son after the flesh, Whose type he was. Compare 2 Sam. 7:13, 16; Psalm 72; 89:20, 29, 36, 37.
16 Hebr. as generation and generation, that is, in all generations.
7He shall 17abide before God for ever: O 18prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
17 Reigning in his throne. See Psalm 29:10; Luke 1:32, 33; Acts 2:30.
18 Or, appoint, order, as his appointed and prepared portion. In the Hebrew the same word is used, man, which had the heavenly Manna, wherewith God fed the Israelites in the wilderness as with food prepared for them.
8So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, 19that I may 20daily perform my 21vows.
19 Or, by paying.
20 Hebr. day day, that is, day by day, daily. See Gen. 39 on verse 10. Likewise Psalm 68:19; Isa. 58:2.
21 See verse 5; Job 22 on verse 27.