Psalm 61:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

NIV: For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.

NASB: For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy.

CSB: for you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower in the face of the enemy.

NLT: for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.

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

NKJV: For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.

This affirms that a large part of David's prayer (Psalm 61:1–2) is for the Lord to provide protection and reassurance. David recalls times past when God was the source of his confidence and the power behind his victory (Proverbs 18:10). Those occasions persuaded David that God would never fail him (2 Samuel 8:6).

David displayed this same confidence when he volunteered to fight the giant Goliath. Having been empowered to defeat large predators, he was confident he could kill the Philistine champion (1 Samuel 17:37). The apostle Paul demonstrated similar confidence in the Lord. Through his many dangerous travels, Paul saw evidence of God's power to provide safety so His followers could complete His will (2 Corinthians 1:9–10).

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.

Accessed 5/4/2024 5:56:16 AM