Psalm 61:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,

NIV: From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

NASB: From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

CSB: I call to you from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength. Lead me to a rock that is high above me,

NLT: From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety,

KJV: From 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.

NKJV: From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

This psalm is not officially connected to another event. Yet this verse implies that David is far from home and seeking a high, fortified refuge. When David's son, Absalom, led a rebellion (2 Samuel 15:13–14), David fled over the Mount of Olives (2 Samuel 15:30) to a rocky installation in Mahanaim (2 Samuel 17:24). That may have inspired his choice of words in this song.

The expression "the end of the earth" is an example of exaggeration for effect. This is also called "hyperbole." The phrase implies that David feels displaced and homesick. In modern English, a person might say they are "in the middle of nowhere." David also felt overwhelmed by difficult circumstances. To be "faint of heart" means David was growing fearful and weak, sensing that his resolve was breaking down. The Hebrew words used suggest being covered up or fading away.

To avoid this, David prays that God will provide not only rescue, but also to grant him stability and determination. In literal terms, this could mean David praying for successful travels to a safe location, such as a mountain fortress. At the same time, these words evoke the idea of the Lord God being that impenetrable sanctuary (Psalm 94:22). David knew God could keep him safe from the pursuing enemy. The next verses lean into this idea of the Lord being David's primary source of protection.

Psalm 61:1–4 is David's prayer for safety during a time of uncertainty. He feels his courage draining and speaks as if he is far from home. His appeal includes references to secure, high places, fortified areas, and sanctuary. David repeats a common metaphor about God protecting His people the way a mother hen guards chicks with outstretched wings (Psalm 17:8; 63:7).

David prays as someone displaced from home and wracked with fear. He asks to be led to safety, recalling God's former protection. David appeals to his personal faithfulness towards the Lord. He asks for his kingship to be protected, echoing the promises God made about David's reign (2 Samuel 7:9–13). Anticipating that rescue, David promises to praise the Lord.

The historical setting for this psalm is uncertain, unlike psalms connected to definite events (Psalm 54; 59; 60). This psalm asks for protection for the king, so it might have been inspired by David's evacuation during the rebellion of Absalom (2 Samuel 15:13–14). That escape led David over the Mount of Olives (2 Samuel 15:30) and to the fortified city of Mahanaim (2 Samuel 17:24), events which resemble the themes of this song.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.