1.
Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
Neginah = smitings. App-65 .
Title. of David: i.e. relating to David and to the true David.
2.
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.
the earth: or, the land.
that is higher than I = which will prove higher.
3.
For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
shelter = refuge.
4.
I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
tabernacle. Hebrew. 'ohel, tent ( App-40 .), i.e. David's tent on Mount Zion. The Psalm probably refers to Absalom's rebellion.
trust = flee for refuge. Hebrew. hasah. App-69 .
covert = secret place.
wings. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia . App-6 .
Selah. Connecting the confidence with the only true ground of it. This is the central member of the Psalm. See the Structure above.
5.
For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
fear = revere.
Thy name = Thee. See note on Psalms 20:1 .
6.
Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations.
many generations = from generation to generation.
7.
He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
abide = remain [enthroned].
prepare = number, or appoint, as in Jonah 1:17 .
mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.
8.
So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .
to = for.
Jeduthun. A precentor appointed by David, by name Ethan (see App-65 ), afterward called Jeduthun = confession (1 Chronicles 15:17-19 ; 1 Chronicles 16:41 ; 1 Chronicles 25:1-6 ). Other Jeduthun Psalms are Psalms 38 and Psalms 76 ; in all three "vows" find a place.