Psalms — Chapter 61

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1For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. Of David. Hear 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.

1Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

2From 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.

3For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

4I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

5For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

6Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.

7He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

8So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

1Hear my cry, O God; Attend unto my prayer.

2From the end of the earth will I call unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3For thou hast been a refuge for me, A strong tower from the enemy.

4I will dwell in thy tabernacle for ever: I will take refuge in the covert of thy wings. Selah

5For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: Thou hast given [me] the heritage of those that fear thy name.

6Thou wilt prolong the king`s life; His years shall be as many generations.

7He shall abide before God for ever: Oh prepare lovingkindness and truth, that they may preserve him.

8So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, That I may daily perform my vows. Psalm 62 For the Chief Musician; after the manner of Jeduthan. A Psalm of David.

1For the music director, to be played on a stringed instrument; written by David. O God, hear my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer.

2From the remotest place on earth I call out to you in my despair. Lead me up to a rocky summit where I can be safe.

3Indeed, you are my shelter, a strong tower that protects me from the enemy.

4I will be a permanent guest in your home; I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. (Selah)

5For you, O God, hear my vows; you grant me the reward that belongs to your loyal followers.

6Give the king long life. Make his lifetime span several generations.

7May he reign forever before God. Decree that your loyal love and faithfulness should protect him.

8Then I will sing praises to your name continually, as I fulfill my vows day after day.

1Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer.

2From the end of the earth, I will call to you, when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3For you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy.

4I will dwell in your tent forever. I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah.

5For you, God, have heard my vows. You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6You will prolong the king’s life; his years shall be for generations.

7He shall be enthroned in God’s presence forever. Appoint your loving kindness and truth, that they may preserve him.

8So I will sing praise to your name forever, that I may fulfill my vows daily.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

A psalm of prayer and trust, likely written by David during a time of exile or distress far from Jerusalem. He cries to God from the ends of the earth, asking to be led to a rock higher than himself and recalling God's past faithfulness as shelter and strong tower (vv. 1-3). He longs to dwell in God's presence forever, sheltered under his wings (v. 4), and reflects on vows God has already heard (v. 5). The psalm turns to intercession for the king, asking that his life and reign be extended under God's steadfast love and faithfulness (vv. 6-7), closing with a vow to keep praising God's name and fulfilling his vows day after day (v. 8).

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses.
Classification: Royal Psalm / Individual Lament
Attributed Author: David
Key Themes: Crying out from a distance, the rock higher than I, God as shelter and strong tower, longing for God's presence, prayer for the king, eternal praise
Historical Context: This psalm likely comes from a time when David was far from Jerusalem — possibly during Absalom's rebellion when he fled east across the Jordan (2 Samuel 15-17). The phrase "from the end of the earth" suggests geographical distance from the sanctuary. David's heart is "overwhelmed" (faint), yet he reaches toward God from afar. The prayer for the king (vv.6-7) may be David praying for himself in the third person (a royal convention) or may have been adapted for later liturgical use. The Messianic overtones in "He shall abide before God for ever" point beyond any earthly king to Christ.
From the End of the Earth (vv.1-2): Hear my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer. The location given is deliberately vague and deliberately far, from the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed. And the petition that follows admits it needs help to get anywhere, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
A Shelter and a Strong Tower (vv.3-4): For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. The claim is made in the perfect tense, so the confidence rests on a record. Then two images side by side, one architectural and one avian, I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever, I will trust in the covert of thy wings, which is the same pairing as Psalm 27:5.
The Heritage of Them That Fear Thy Name (v.5): For thou, O God, hast heard my vows, thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. One verse, and the word heritage is the land-allotment term Psalm 16:6 uses, so what is claimed is a portion held in common with others rather than a private answer.
Thou Wilt Prolong the King's Life (vv.6-7): Thou wilt prolong the king's life, and his years as many generations. The switch to the third person is why many read the psalm as a royal one prayed on the king's behalf, and the request is for something longer than a lifetime. He shall abide before God for ever, O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
So Will I Sing Praise (v.8): So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. One verse, and it pairs for ever with daily, which is the psalm's way of making a large promise practical: the perpetual praise is to be delivered in instalments.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Verse-by-verse commentary on this chapter, written for the everyday reader and freely available online.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Psalm 61 | Let Me Dwell with God Forever | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Psalm 61 - Hope and Help When My Heart is Overwhelmed
David Guzik

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of Psalms -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Crying to God From Anywhere (vv.1-2) — David cries to God from the ends of the earth when his heart is overwhelmed, asking to be led to a rock higher than himself. Where do you need to ask God to lift you above a situation you can't fix on your own?
  • Shelter and Lifelong Refuge (vv.3-4) — Because God has been a strong tower before, David resolves to dwell in His presence forever, sheltered under His wings. Does your past experience of God's faithfulness shape how confidently you run to Him now?
  • The Heritage of Those Who Fear God (v.5) — David recalls that God has heard his vows and grants an inheritance to those who revere His name. What would change in your life if you took the fear of the Lord as seriously as David did?
  • A Prayer for Enduring Faithfulness (vv.6-7) — David prays that steadfast love and faithfulness would preserve the king's life forever, a prayer ultimately fulfilled in Christ's eternal reign. How does knowing Christ reigns forever change the way you face today's uncertainties?
  • A Vow of Perpetual Praise (v.8) — David commits to singing God's praise every day as he fulfills his vows. Is your praise of God tied to your circumstances, or is it a daily commitment regardless of how you feel?