John Calvin Commentary Psalms 61:7

"He shall abide before God for ever: Oh prepare lovingkindness and truth, that they may preserve him." — Psalms 61:7 (ASV)

He shall abide before the face of God for ever. This is only a simpler way of expressing what he had said before, I will abide in your tabernacle for ever. He refers to the security and peace which he would enjoy under the protection of God, who would effectually preserve his life.

By the face of God, must be understood the fatherly care and providence which he extends to his people. So numerous are the dangers which surround us, that we could not stand a single moment if his eye did not watch over our preservation. But the true security for a happy life lies in being persuaded that we are under divine government.

There follows a prayer that God would appoint mercy and truth for preserving the king. And this admits of two meanings. As clemency and truth are the best safeguards of a kingdom, it would not be entirely unreasonable to suppose that David prays here to be endowed with these dispositions, as a means of establishing his throne.

But the other meaning is perhaps preferable, that God would gird himself with clemency and truth for the preservation of the king. The Hebrew term מנה, manah, signifies not only to prepare, but to set over, or appoint; and he speaks as if the true defense of the kingdom was only to be found in the mercy and faithfulness of God.

He uses the expression prepare, or command, to indicate how easily God can provide the means necessary for preserving his people.

In the concluding words, he expresses his resolution to persevere in the constant celebration of the praises of God, with a view to fulfilling the vows he had made. This, in turn, may lead us to remark on the agreement that ought always to exist between the two parts of invocation: for David, while he applied to God for help under the pressure of calamity, showed himself uniformly grateful when he had experienced deliverance.