Psalm 61:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations!

NIV: Increase the days of the king's life, his years for many generations.

NASB: You will prolong the king’s life; His years will be like generations.

CSB: Add days to the king's life; may his years span many generations.

NLT: Add many years to the life of the king! May his years span the generations!

KJV: Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations.

NKJV: You will prolong the king’s life, His years as many generations.

David asks the Lord to extend the king's life; this psalm was probably written while David was, himself, the king. Because of this and earlier references to safety (Psalm 61:2), it's possible this song was a response to Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15:13–14). David's prayer is based in a confidence (Psalm 61:5) that the Lord would keep His promises about David's kingship and his descendants (2 Samuel 7:9–16).

Other psalms celebrate God's guarantee that David's throne would be established and protected (Psalm 89:20–21). Further, the Lord promised, "The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him" (Psalm 89:22–23). If Psalm 61 was composed because of Absalom's mutiny, the rebellious son suffered exactly that fate. During the uprising, Absalom's hair became tangled in the branches of a tree, and he was killed by David's men (2 Samuel 18:9–15).

Psalm 61:5–8 affirms David's confidence in God's purposes. He prays accordingly for a long life as Israel's king, suggesting this psalm may have been inspired by a threat to his rule. David also prays for God's loyal love and faithful protectiveness.

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 5/2/2024 11:11:52 PM