Chapter Sixty-One

This psalm, like the previous one, can be attributed to the time of David’s flight from Jerusalem during Absalom’s revolt. This agrees with the indication that enemies planned to overthrow David “from a height” (Ps 61:5), understood as his social position, that is, his throne, which he did not have under Saul. To achieve their success, enemies resorted to hypocritical falsehood (Ps 61:5), and their predominance was accompanied by robberies and plunder. The last two characteristics coincide with that time, as the revolt against David was prepared by hypocritical external displays of respect toward him and at the same time by the spreading of false reports about him; after the temporary seizure of power by his enemies, they gave themselves over to all sorts of plunder. David spoke of this often already in other psalms from that same time.

I trust only in the Lord, and therefore all my enemies will be brought down, whatever lies they resort to (2–5). My sole and true protection, like that of all people, is only the Lord. Flee to Him, and do not hope in people, for only with the Lord is strength and mercy (6–13).

Psalm 61:3. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress: I shall not be shaken. “He is my rock,” usually translated “He is my rock,” points to the unassailability of God’s help. “I shall not be shaken anymore”—David can no longer have doubt that the attacks of his enemies will be successful, therefore the fear of the possibility of his ruin disappears in him and is replaced by faith in deliverance.

Psalm 61:4. How long will you assault a person? Will you all fall down together, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? The ruin of enemies will be unavoidable by any means. They will climb on a crumbling wall which cannot be supported by any effort.

Psalm 61:5. They have plotted to thrust him down from his height; they delight in lies. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Regarding David’s conduct as king toward his people, the enemies could point to nothing criminal and harmful to them. His authority stood high not only by his rank as king but also by his actual worth, testified to by all his previous activity as a ruler. To overthrow him from his throne (“from a height”) enemies “resorted to lies.” To lull David’s vigilance and to achieve their end, they showed false respect before him, “but in their heart they curse.” Such methods are usual where there is no truth in deeds and purity in intentions.

Psalm 61:9. O people! trust in Him at all times; pour out your heart before Him: God is our refuge. By the “people” can be understood those people who accompanied David in his flight and who despaired of the possibility of his salvation. “Pour out your heart before Him”—turn to Him with sincere, unhypocritical prayer and firm faith.

Psalm 61:10. Children of mankind are but a breath; children of men are a lie; if placed on a scale, together they are lighter than a breath. “Children of mankind”—ordinary people, common folk; “children of men”—people of noble rank. Trust in both of them on the day of one’s salvation is “vanity and a lie,” for the degree of their influence on the final fate of a person, compared to divine guidance, if placed on a scale, will prove “lighter than a breath,” a person in determining his fate is nothing.

Psalm 61:11. Do not trust in extortion and do not vain yourselves in plunder; when wealth increases, do not set your heart on it. One should not think that impunity for plunder and robberies, as well as material wealth in the hands of a person, can serve him as protection and support and as an impregnable stronghold. The temporary advantage on the side of the wicked and their outward predominance should not incite imitation: “do not set your heart on it.” All the content of verses 9–11 is directed by David to those around him in exile, whom despair overwhelmed and who lost faith in the possibility of David’s salvation and of their own, because they saw the material advantage on the side of his plundering enemies.

Psalm 61:12. Once God spoke, and twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, Psalm 61:13. and that to You, O Lord, belongs mercy, for You will repay everyone according to his deeds. “Once God spoke, and twice have I heard this”—I have heard a twofold truth, spoken once by God as a guide for humanity: 1. “Power belongs to God”—the authority to govern all that exists belongs to God alone as the supreme sovereign of the world; 2. “Mercy” is sent also by Him. The meaning of the whole expression is that true and reliable protection exists only with the merciful Lord.