Title. A psalm of David, written during his northern expedition, as it would seem from the second verse.
Psalms 61:2. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee; that is, from the north-east extremity of the country, where he was then fighting with Shobah, and in Mesopotamia, as in the preseding psalm. He was far from his country, from his throne, and the sanctuary. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. The MESSIAH: so the ancients have understood the words. A fortified place is too low a sense. See Psalms 62:2.
Psalms 61:6. Thou wilt prolong the king's life: He shall abide before God for ever. The Hebrew word עלם ôlam, when applied to God or his perfections, denotes everlasting existence; but when applied to men, it is equivalent to an age, or to long life. David, though in exile, calls himself the king, as in Psalms 63:11; he abates nothing of the promise made at his consecration. But the words are too strong to apply to David; they undoubtedly relate to the Messiah, whose throne is for ever and ever. So all the christian fathers have understood this psalm.