Bible Commentaries
Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible
Psalms 61
BOOK II.—PSS. XLII.-LXXII.
Psalms 42-83 are Elohistic, i.e. they use the word God (Elohim) and avoid the proper name Yahweh, probably from motives of reverence. Here and there, however, the name Yahweh has crept into the text by a natural slip of the scribes.
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 against me, thou wilt be my guide." We may with a slight emendation translate, "In straits that are too mighty for me, lead thou me."
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