For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.
Parallel Translations
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For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.
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Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
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(63-8) For Thou hast been my help, and in the shadow of Thy wings do I rejoice.
Cross-references (9)
Passages linked to Psalms 63:7 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 2 Corinthians 1:10 who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver; on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us;
- Psalms 61:4 I will dwell in your tent forever. I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
- Psalms 27:9 Don’t hide your face from me. Don’t put your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Don’t abandon me, neither forsake me, God of my salvation.
- Psalms 17:8 Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
- Psalms 54:3-4 For strangers have risen up against me. Violent men have sought after my soul. They haven’t set God before them. Behold, God is my helper. The Lord is the one who sustains my soul.
- Psalms 57:1 Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed.
- 1 Samuel 17:37 David said, “Yahweh who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go! Yahweh will be with you.”
- Psalms 5:11 But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice. Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them. Let them also who love your name be joyful in you.
- Psalms 21:1 The king rejoices in your strength, Yahweh! How greatly he rejoices in your salvation!
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Psa 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore…
Psa 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
Ver. 7. Because thou hast been my help] This was the matter of his meditation, and hereby he helped his faith.
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Therefore in the shadow of thy wings, &c,] Metaphora a pullis pipientibus sub alis Matrum, saith Junius.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Remember thee: in the mean time, whilst I cannot…
Remember thee: in the mean time, whilst I cannot enjoy thee, I will quiet and comfort myself with the thoughts and remembrance of thy kindness to me. Upon my bed, Heb. upon my beds, implying that he was frequently forced to change his bed and lodging, being driven from place to place. In the night watches; in the several seasons of the night, which was divided into three or four watches; of which see Exo 14:24; Jdg 7:19; Mar 13:35. When others sleep securely, my sleep is interrupted by my perplexity and grief for my absence from thy house, and when I awake my thoughts are fixed upon thee, &c.
I will rejoice; I will rest securely and joyfully in thy protection.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain David, having expressed his desires towards God and his…
David, having expressed his desires towards God and his praises of him, here expresses his confidence in him and his joyful expectations from him (Psa 63:7): In the shadow of thy wings I will rejoice, alluding either to the wings of the cherubim stretched out over the ark of the covenant, between which God is said to dwell ("I will rejoice in thy oracles, and in covenant and communion with thee"), or to the wings of a fowl, under which the helpless young ones have shelter, as the eagle's young ones (Exo 19:4, Deu 32:11), which speaks the divine power, and the young ones of the common hen (Mat 23:37), which speaks more of divine tenderness. It is a phrase often used in the psalms (Psa 17:8; Psa 36:7; Psa 57:1; Psa 61:4; Psa 91:4), and no where else in this sense, except Rut 2:12, where Ruth, when she became a proselyte, is said to trust under the wings of the God of Israel. It is our duty to rejoice in the shadow of God's wings, which denotes our recourse to him by faith and prayer, as naturally as the chickens, when they are cold or frightened, run by instinct under the wings of the hen. It intimates also our reliance upon him as able and ready to help us and our refreshment and satisfaction in his care and protection. Having committed ourselves to God, we must be easy and pleased, and quiet from the fear of evil. Now let us see further,
I. What were the supports and encouragements of David's confidence in God. Two things were as props to that hope which the word of God was the only foundation of: -
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1. His former experiences of God's power in relieving him: "Because thou hast been my help when other helps and helpers failed me, therefore I will still rejoice in thy salvation, will trust in thee for the future, and will do it with delight and holy joy. Thou hast been not only my helper, but my help;" for we could never have helped ourselves, nor could any creature have been helpful to us, but by him. Here we may set up our Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto the Lord has helped us, and must therefore resolve that we will never desert him, never distrust him, nor ever droop in our walking with him.
2. The present sense he had of God's grace carrying him on in these pursuits (Psa 63:8): My soul follows hard after thee, which speaks a very earnest desire and a serious vigorous endeavour to keep up communion with God; if we cannot always have God in our embraces, yet we must always have him in our eye, reaching forth towards him as our prize, Phi 3:14. To press hard after God is to follow him closely, as those that are afraid of losing the sight of him, and to follow him swiftly, as those that long to be with him. This David did, and he owns, to the glory of God, Thy right hand upholds me. God upheld him, (1.) Under his afflictions, that he might not sink under them. Underneath are the everlasting arms. (2.) In his devotions. God upheld him in his holy desires and pursuits, that he might not grow weary in well-doing. Those that follow hard after God would soon fail and faint if God's right hand did not uphold them. It is he that strengthens us in the pursuit of him, quickens our good affections, and comforts us while we have not yet attained what we are in the pursuit of. It is by the power of God (that is his right hand) that we are kept from falling. Now this was a great encouragement to the psalmist to hope that he would, in due time, give him that which he so earnestly desired, because he had by his grace wrought in him those desires and kept them up.
II. What it was that David triumphed in the hopes of.
1. That his enemies should be ruined, Psa 63:9, Psa 63:10. There were those that sought his soul to destroy it, not only his life (which they struck at, both to prevent his coming to the crown and because they envied and hated him for his wisdom, piety, and usefulness), but his soul, which they sought to destroy by banishing him from God's ordinances, which are the nourishment and support of the soul (so doing what they could to starve it), and by sending him to serve other gods, so doing what they could to poison it, Sa1 26:19. But he foresees and foretels, (1.) That they shall go into the lower parts of the earth, to the grave, to hell; their enmity to David would be their death and their damnation, their ruin, their eternal ruin. (2.) That they shall fall by the sword, by the sword of God's wrath and his justice, by the sword of man, Job 19:28, Job 19:29. They shall die a violent death, Rev 13:10. This was fulfilled in Saul, who fell by the sword, his own sword; David foretold this, yet he would not execute it when it was in the power of his hand, once and again; for precepts, not prophecies, are our rule. (3.) That they shall be a portion for foxes; either their dead bodies shall be a prey to ravenous beasts (Saul lay a good while unburied) or their houses and estates shall be a habitation for wild beasts, Isa 34:14. Such as this will be the doom of Christ's enemies, that oppose his kingdom and interest in the world; Bring them forth and slay them before me, Luk 19:27.
2. That he himself should gain his point at last (Psa 63:11), that he should be advanced to the throne to which he had been anointed: The king shall rejoice in God. (1.) He calls himself the king, because he knew himself to be so in the divine purpose and designation; thus Paul, while yet in the conflict, writes himself more than a conqueror, Rom 8:37. Believers are made kings, though they are not to have the dominion till the morning of the resurrection. (2.) He doubts not but that though he was now sowing in tears he should reap in joy. The king shall rejoice. (3.) He resolves to make God the Alpha and Omega of all his joys. He shall rejoice in God. Now this is applicable to the glories and joys of the exalted Redeemer. Messiah the Prince shall rejoice in God; he has already entered into the joy set before him, and his glory will be completed at his second coming. Two things would be the good effect of David's advancement: - [1.] It would be the consolation of his friends. Every one that swears to him (that is, to David), that comes into his interest and takes an oath of allegiance to him, shall glory in his success; or every one that swears by him (that is, by the blessed name of God, and not by any idol, Deu 6:13), and then it means all good people, that make a sincere and open profession of God's name; they shall glory in God; they shall glory in David's advancement. Those that fear thee will be glad when they see me. Those that heartily espouse the cause of Christ shall glory in its victory at last. If we suffer with him, we shall reign with him. [2.] It would be the confutation of his enemies: The mouth of those that speak lies, of Saul, and Doeg, and others that misrepresented David and insulted over him, as if his cause was desperate, shall be quite stopped; they shall not have one word more to say against him, but will be for ever silenced and shamed. Apply this to Christ's enemies, to those that speak lies to him, as all hypocrites do, that tell him they love him while their hearts are not with him; their mouth shall be stopped with that word, I know you not whence you are; they shall be for ever speechless, Mat 22:12. The mouths of those also that speak lies against him, that pervert the right ways of the Lord and speak ill of his holy religion, will be stopped in that day when the Lord shall come to reckon for all the hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. Christ's second coming will be the everlasting triumph of all his faithful friends and followers, who may therefore now triumph in the believing hopes of it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Because thou hast been my help,.... Or, "that thou…
Because thou hast been my help,.... Or, "that thou hast been my help" (s); and so the words may be considered as the subject of his meditation in the night watches, at least as a part of it; and as what gave him a great deal of pleasure to reflect upon, how the Lord had been in times past a present help to him in time of trouble;
therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice; meaning under the protecting power of God, where he knew he was safe, and therefore had reason to rejoice. The allusion is to the chirping of chickens under the wing of the hen; see Psa 57:1. The Targum is,
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"in the shadow of thy Shechinah will I rejoice;''
referring it may be to the Shechinah, or presence of God, between the cherubim, whose wings overshadowed the mercy seat.
(s) "quod", Musculus, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Ainsworth.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 7. Therefore in the shadow of thy wings]…
Verse 7. Therefore in the shadow of thy wings] I will get into the very secret of thy presence, into the holy of holies, to the mercy-seat, over which the cherubs extend their wings. If the psalmist does not allude to the overshadowing of the mercy-seat by the extended wings of the cherubim, he may have in view, as a metaphor, the young of fowls, seeking shelter, protection, and warmth under the wings of their mothers. See the same metaphor, Ps 61:4. When a bird of prey appears, the chickens will, by natural instinct, run under the wings of their mothers for protection.
The old Psalter translates, And in hiling of thi wenges I sall joy. The paraphrase is curious. "Thou art my helper, in perels; and I can joy in gode dedes in thi hiling, (covering,) for I am thi bride, (bird,) and if thou hil (cover) me noght, the glede (kite) will rawis me, (carry me away.")
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Psa 63:7. Because thou hast been my help —…
Psa 63:7. Because thou hast been my help — When other helps and helpers failed me; because I have known by experience both thy power and will to save those that trust in thee; therefore, in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice — Hebrew, ארנן, aranneen, will I sing: I will confide in thee for the future, and will do it with delight and comfort: I will rest securely and joyfully, and will sing thy praises under thy protection. He alludes either to the wings of the cherubim stretched out over the mercy-seat, between which God was said to dwell; or to the wings of a fowl, under which her helpless young ones have shelter. Thus the recollection of past mercies inclines the true believer still to have recourse, in all his dangers and difficulties, to his strong helper, and to put himself and all his affairs under the wings of an overshadowing providence.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Because thou hast been my help - Because thou…
Because thou hast been my help - Because thou hast interposed to defend me in danger. The idea is, that he had experienced the divine interposition in times of danger, and that this was a reason why he should still confide in God. The argument is, that God’s mercy and favor in the past is a reason why we should confide in him in time to come.
Therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice - Under the shadow or protection of thy wings will I feel safe. See the notes at Psa 17:8. Compare Psa 36:7; Psa 57:1; Psa 61:4.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 7. Because… therefore—His past experience offers assurance to faith…
7. Because… therefore—His past experience offers assurance to faith of future deliverances. Thus “tribulation worketh patience,… experience,… hope.” Rom_5:3-4.
Wings—Emblem of tender care and protection.
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Luk_13:34. The figure always refers to the cherubim whose wings shadowed the “mercy seat.”
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (7) Because . . .—Better, For thou hast been…
(7) Because . . .—Better, For thou hast been my helper; and under the shadow, &c. (For the image see Psa_17:8; Psa_36:7; Psa_57:1; Psa_61:4.)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Because thou hast been my help. God bad already…
Because thou hast been my help. God bad already delivered David out of so many dangers and troubles, that he felt all the more confidence for the future. Therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. (see the comment on Psa_61:4)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Charles H. Spurgeon 1885 · Public Domain Ver. 7. Because thou hast been my help. Meditation…
Ver. 7. Because thou hast been my help. Meditation had refreshed his memory and recalled to him his past deliverances. It were well if we oftener read our own diaries, especially noting the hand of the Lord in helping us in suffering, want, labour, or dilemma. This is the grand use of memory, to furnish us with proofs of the Lord's faithfulness, and lead us onward to a growing confidence in him.
Therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. The very shade of God is sweet to a believer. Under the eagle wings of Jehovah we hide from all fear, and we do this naturally and at once, because we have aforetime tried and proved both his love and his power. We are not only safe, but happy in God: we rejoice as well as repose.
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Ver. 7. Because thou hast been. The surest way, and the nearest way, to lay hold upon God is the consideration of that which he hath done already, which was David's way here; because, says he, this was God's way before, therefore will I look for God in this way still. The language in which God spake to man, the Hebrew, hath no present tense. They form not their verbs, as our western languages do, in the present tense, but they begin at that which is past. God carries us in his language, in his speaking, upon that which is past, upon that which he hath done already. I cannot have better security for present nor future than God's former mercies exhibited to me. Abraham Wright.
Ver. 7. Thou hast been my help. From this one word--that God hath been my help --I make account that we have both these notions; first, that God hath not left me to myself, he hath come to my succour, he hath helped me; and then, that God hath not left out myself, he hath been my help, but he hath left something for me to do with him and by his help. My security for the future in this consideration of that which is past lies not only in this, that God hath delivered me, but in this also, that he hath delivered me by way of a help, and help always presumes an endeavour and cooperation in him that is helped. God did not elect me as a helper, not create me, nor redeem me, nor convert me, by way of helping me; for he alone did all, and he had no use at all for me. God infuses his first grace, the first way, merely as a giver; entirely, all himself; but his subsequent grace as a helper; therefore we call them auxilliant graces, helping graces, and we always receive them when we endeavour to make use of his former grace. John Donne.
Ver. 7. My help.
I. In duty. He helps his people here. There is
nothing which God requires of his people, as to be
done by them, but himself helps them in the doing of
it. He is not like the Egyptian task masters, which
require brick and give no straw wherewithal to make
it.
II. In conflict. He assists here also. As when the
Israelite and the Egyptian strove together, Moses came
in and helped the Israelite (Ex 2:12); even so
does God in this case with us, when we are wrestling
and struggling with Satan, who is our spiritual enemy,
the Lord is here nigh to help us, which may encourage
us still in our resistance and opposition: we have a
mighty second to stand for us, and to take up our
quarrel.
III. In affliction. God helps his people; namely, to
bear patiently those crosses which he lays upon them.
He takes part with them in their sufferings, and in
all their afflictions is afflicted himself, as
sometimes he expresses it. He lays no more upon them
than he does help them, and enable them, to endure.
1. He helps them from, by way of prevention.
2. He helps them in, by way of support.
3. He helps them out, by way of rescue, and redemption, and deliverance. Thomas Horton.
Ver. 7. My help. Thou hast been not only my helper, but my help, for we could never have helped ourselves, nor could any creature have been helpful to us but by him. Matthew Henry.
Ver. 7. MY help. There is more encouragement in the least blessing bestowed upon ourselves than in the greatest blessing bestowed upon a stranger; and, therefore, on every account we may safely say, that a whole library of biographical books, and those relating exclusively to righteous individuals, could not so minister to the assurance of a believer as the documents which his own memory can furnish. These, then, should often engage his study, whether he be the rich or the poor. He should do just as David did. Doubtless David was well acquainted with the histories of Noah, and of Abraham, of Jacob, of Joseph, of Moses; and the records of these eminent servants of God were records of surprising deliverances, of divine promises made good, and human wants supplied. Nevertheless, when himself in the wilderness, David did not recur to those records for encouragement. His exclamation is: Because thou hast been MY help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. Henry Melvill.
Ver. 7. Will I rejoice. As a bird, sheltered in the rich foliage from the heat of the sun, sings its merry notes; so he celebrated his songs of praise from the shadow of the wings of God. Augustus F. Tholuck.
Ver. 7. A well founded resolve.
I. Upon what based.
II. How expressed. J. S. B.
Psalms 63:8*
Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the…
Psa_63:7-8
Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.
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The remembrance of past mercies an inducement to present confidence in God
This psalm is not one of complaint or sorrow, nor of settled joy, but of the transition from the one to the other. David has just recovered his confidence in God, and feeling assured that his soul will soon find rest and confidence in Him. Believers, now, are often in this state of mind, in this transition state. Oh, let us see to it that we go forward, as David did, and not backward into deeper gloom; for this is possible: we may sink down as well as rise. That we may rise, note how David acted in such case.
I. He states a fact--Thou hast been my help. And surely we can say this; indeed, we must say it, for the Lord has been our help. When in our sin, He became our Saviour, and by His Holy Spirit turned us to Himself. We have had other helpers, but none such as He. And every true believer recognizes this. Others practically regard themselves as their own real helpers, not God.
II. A resolution founded on the fact. Because . . . therefore in the shadow of, etc. The shadow of Thy wings signifies the parental protection of God, His watchfulness, love and tenderness. The whole sentence expresses--
1. The most assured safety in God. As the chickens deem themselves safe while under the wing of the mother-bird, so are Gods people safe under His protection. And not only safe from danger, but hidden from it: it cannot find them.
2. A determination in the psalmist to fly to God for safety. When he says he will rejoice in the shadow of Gods wings, he plainly intimates that he will betake himself there (Psa_57:1; Psa_143:9). We are not to look for Gods mercy without seeking it. The name of God is a strong tower, but the righteous will, must, run into it, would he be safe. The everlasting wings are spread out for us, we must run and keep beneath them would we be safe.
3. An anticipation of pleasure and joy in Gods protection. I will rejoice, not merely be safe, but be happy. He is not going to a shelter he is driven to, but to a home he loves. These two ideas of safety and comfort in God are ever kept together in Davids mind (Psa_23:4; Psa_90:1-17 :l). And--
4. This resolution is grounded on the fact the psalmist set out with. Because Thou hast been, etc. It is a poor use to make of Gods mercies to get only a present comfort from them; the memory of them ought to be treasured up for use in future trials.
III. The earnestness with which the psalmist carries his resolution into effect. My soul followeth hard after Thee. In affliction we are apt to be languid and wanting in all energy, It seems to say, If I am to have comfort, the Lord must come and bring it to me, I cannot turn to Him and seek it. But how different Davids thought. Oh, let us rouse ourselves, determine to use a holy violence with ourselves when we are in affliction. What we want is such an enjoyment of God as will leave us neither time nor inclination to dwell upon our troubles. Let all remember, there is rest and happiness in God, and especially for every penitent contrite soul. (C. Bradley, M. A.)
The sheltering wing
I. We have a grateful record. Thou hast been my help.
1. God awakened us from our folly and sin.
2. God helped us when we sought pardon and deliverance from the burden of sin.
3. And when we have been in despair God has been our help.
4. And when we were without strength, sick, or in peril of ruin. And to render us this help Christ died on the cross.
II. It is a safe shelter. In the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice. Likewise the Christian, remembering that God has been his help up to the present time, shelters himself from temptation, trouble, and trial, knowing that He who has delivered him in the past will not leave him in the toils of the present or the hardships of the future. God shelters us from the allurements of this world. We need a shelter from the darkness and trouble of the present life.
III. An expression of joy. I will rejoice. O, ye Christians, rejoice, likewise, for God is your Keeper. (W. Birch.)
The argument from experience
The rejoicing told of here is--
I. Reasonable. Because; none can deny this basis of consolation. It is not founded on Gods promise--though that could never be broken--but upon past experience. God has been our help.
II. Personal--My help.
III. Real. It is far more than rest or quiescent peace. The psalms are full of the gladness of the Lord. Much joy is superficial. What depths of melancholy there are in hearts that know not God.
IV. Restful.
V. Prophetic. What can the future bring for which Christ cannot prepare us? This, then, is to be written on our banners, In the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice. (W. M. Statham.)
Experience and assurance
I. Experience.
1. David had experienced Divine help. The Roman used to speak of Deus ex machina; God appearing in an unexpected manner in the midst of a history to rescue the hero, and change the scene. This is no figure of speech in the life of faith. Every now and then we have witnessed a distinct interposition, a stretching out of the Divine hand, an inroad of the supernatural. To us has it been true, He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Others might think our experience fanatical, if we were to tell it as we see it; but this we cannot help. To us it has been a real manifestation of the Divine thoughtfulness on our behalf. Looking back upon our lives, we cannot help saying deliberately, and as cool statement of fact--The Lord has been our help.
2. David had often experienced this help. He does not make this statement in reference to one solitary incident in his life, or he would have said, Thou wast once my help; but he sees a continuity in the lovingkindness of the Lord his God. He means, Thou hast all along been my help. In doing his duty as patriot and king, God was his help, and enabled him to walk uprightly in his government. In his sufferings the Lord was his help, and enabled him to be calm and brave. In the time of danger God was his help, and kept him from the hand of the enemy. And now, in this psalm, though David is in the wilderness of Judah, and probably hunted by his own son, yet he sings unto the Lord, Thou hast been my help. I do not want you to stop with David any longer. I beg you, now, to come nearer home, and review your own lives.
3. These helps rendered to David had been very choice ones. He had often been helped in special ways. God had taken great care of him. He was the favourite of Providence, and the darling of Heaven. Has it not been so with some of you? Have you not enjoyed choice morsels of experience? Are there not incidents in your life which you could scarcely tell, lest the hearer should smile at your credulity?
4. Gods help has also been continuous to us. In the time of our darkness we could not see the link; but, looking back, we can see it now.
5. Observe also that the Lord has granted us educative mercy. David says, Because Thou hast been my help. He says not, that He has wrought everything for us, but He has set us working also. You see, if you do a thing for a man, it is well; but if you help him to do it, it may be better for him, for thus he learns the way.
II. Expectation.
1. What we have experienced of Gods goodness is a revelation of Himself: Gods actions are Himself in motion. If, then, we have experienced Gods power, He is powerful; and we know that anything is possible to Him. If I have experienced His acts of faithfulness, I conclude that He is always faithful, and that He will keep His promise and His covenant, and will be true to all those who trust in Him.
2. This reasoning is good, since you have to do with an unchanging God. If you have changeable man to deal with, there will be no logic in your reasoning; but when you think of Jehovah who changeth not, then you may infer great things, and the severest logic will support you. He was my help, He is my help, and therefore He will be my help, even to the end.
3. This kind of argument is very sure to a mans own self, and he is the person most concerned. We know whom we have believed, and we are persuaded that He will not fail us. We know what we do know; and if we cannot tell it to others, we are none the less sure of it ourselves.
4. It is clear that this is an accumulating argument. The young man who has known the Lord twelve months, and experienced a great deliverance, is sure that the Lord is to be trusted. But when he has passed twenty, thirty, or forty years of the same experience, his assurance will be doubly sure. To a believer in Christ every day teems with providences and mercies. This tree beareth its fruit every month, and the fruit feeds faith wondrously.
III. Assurance.
1. Contented assurance. David, grateful for past help, holds himself still, and happily awaits the purpose of the Lord. He manifests no fear, no fret, no hurry, no worry. Neither does be cast his eyes towards man. Thou hast been my help, saith he; and he looks that way.
2. Patient assurance. It is not ours to hasten the Divine vengeance, nor to wish for a personal triumph; but it is ours to feel the bliss of safety in nearness to God.
3. The assurance of faith. Because Thou hast been my help, therefore--what? In the light of Thy countenance will I rejoice? No: he had then but little light; he was in the shadow. The wilderness cut him off from beholding God in the sanctuary. If you cannot see the face of God, His shadow may give you peace. Lord, I will pray to Thee to lift up the light of Thy countenance upon me; but if Thou dost continue to hide Thyself, I will still trust Thee, and be sure that Thou art the same God of grace. Knowing that Thy shadow is full of defence for me, I will rejoice therein.
4. Continued assurance. We read not, in the shadow of Thy wings have I rejoiced, but, I will rejoice. He is rejoicing, and means to go on rejoicing. His joy no man taketh from him. He will rejoice so long as he has a God to rejoice in.
5. The best of all is, this is rejoicing assurance. The text does not say Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I trust, but, in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice. That is going further than silent submission, or humble trust. David is in the dark; but, like the nightingale, he sings in it. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Davids experience of Gods help
I. Davids experience. Thou hast been my help.
1. This implies his necessity. First, as having much work. Secondly, as having many enemies. Thirdly, as having but little strength. Those which are in these circumstances have need of help to be administered unto them. And this is the case and condition of all Christians.
(1) They have much work, a great deal of business to be despatched by them, which they are not able very well to run through of themselves. Take the meanest Christian that is, and in the lowest rank and order amongst men, yet he has work enough to do if it be but to save his own soul, to live soberly, and righteously, and godly in this present world. But if he be anything higher, then it is so much the more; in the family as a master, or in the church as a minister, or as a magistrate in the commonwealth. Here, now, the greater occasions and opportunities that there are of doing good, the greater is the work itself, and the more need of help in it.
(2) They have many enemies. These two they do usually and commonly go together. Much work to be done, and many enemies to oppose themselves against it (1Co_16:9).
(3) They have but little strength, or, indeed none at all.
2. He hath help afforded him by God Himself.
(1) He is a strong helper.
(2) He is a ready helper. He is a God at hand, and not a God afar off, aa the Scripture often expresses Him. When trouble is near, He is near too; which is a matter of very great comfort and encouragement to all those that depend upon Him.
(3) He is the only help also. Theres none can help without Him, nor, indeed, none besides Him. The improvement of this point to ourselves, in a way of application, comes to this purpose--
1. As a word of comfort and consolation to the people of God in all those difficulties and distresses which they are surrounded and encompassed withal; that they have such an One as this to help them, and to relieve them, and to be assistant unto them.
2. We may make use of this point also in a way of excitement, and that to a threefold performance, which is very rationally consequent hereupon.
(1) If God help us, let us then also help Him.
(2) If God help us, let us then also help ourselves.
(3) If God help us, let us then also help one another.
II. The improvement of this experience.
1. Davids purpose or resolution, which he takes up to himself.
(1) By the shadow of Gods wings we are especially to understand His providence and fatherly protection; and we find mention of it often in Scripture (Psa_17:13; Psa_57:1; Psa_36:7). It is an expression of safety. Look, as the chickens are safe while they are under the wings of the hen, even so are Gods people safe while they are under His providence and protection; and there is nothing which is such a defence and safeguard and security to them as this indeed is. Those which are kept by Him, they are kept safely, neither shall they need anything to fear in the days of evil and trouble which are upon them. It is an expression of secrecy. The wing hides and conceals those which are kept under it; as it preserves them from danger, so it likewise keeps them from discovery. Thus does likewise this wing of God (Psa_91:4; Psa_17:8; Psa_31:20; Jer_36:28). It is an expression of tenderness and singular affection (Deu_32:11-12).
(2) While he says that herein he will rejoice, there are these things implied in it, as considerable and pertinent unto it. Recourse unto them. Complacency and contentment in this condition. Thanksgiving and outward expression.
2. The occasion or ground of his resolution; and that is, the experience of Gods former goodness to him. This is signified in the connection of these latter words with the former, because, therefore; because Thou hast been my help hitherto, therefore will I rejoice in Thy protection for time to come. Heres the force of Davids reasoning; and the reason it holds good upon a twofold consideration. First, in a way of confidence. Secondly, in a way of acknowledgment. I will trust in Thee, and still wait upon Thee in a way of dependence. And again, Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice. That is, I will publish this protection which I have from Thee in a way of thankfulness. According to the first notion so there is this in it, that good Christians do improve former experiences to future dependence. According to the second notion, so there is this in it, that good Christians, where they do receive mercies from God, will be there careful to acknowledge and to be thankful for them. (T. Horton, D. D.)
A joyful syllogism
I. The cause.
1. A grateful memory. One glad necessity of the new life is, Thou shalt remember all the way, etc. Unbelief, on the other hand, has a bad memory (Psa_106:13).
2. A personal possession. My God. The soul lifts its hand, not to grasp abstract truth, nor a doctrinal system, but a personal God. Mix in holier company, rise to higher employments, the Christian may and shall; but to rise to higher rank is impossible, for here and now we are children of God by faith in Jesus Christ.
3. A present joy. How precarious the present life of man! Riches fly, comforts die, friends fail, thrones reel, crowns fall, death levels; but those things which cannot be shaken remain (Heb_12:27).
II. The effect.
1. Refuge--ample, accessible, friendly.
2. Rest. The helpless leaning on the helper; the sinful on the sinless; the aching, guilty head, resting on the bosom of Christ. (Homilist.)
The saint rejoicing in Divine help
I. The help which the Lord hath given and experience recorded.
II. The shadow of the wings in which those to whom the Lord has been their help, hope He will be their help in all times to come. Here is all that favour, and mercy, and kindness, and good-will toward men, which the cherubims with their wings covering the mercy-seat prefigured.
III. The joy and gladness which hope of help in God raises in the shadow of His wings. This arises--
1. From what pious men see in the shadow of His wings. In all events and occurrences, they see not instruments, but perfections; not men, but God, sanctifying Himself, and magnifying Himself in exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. This view of His administration, under covert of which they have sheltered themselves, raises and enlivens their joy, and creates and confirms their hopes of all things issuing in His glory and their good.
2. From what they hear (Psa_62:11-12).
3. From what they believe. Under the wings of the overshadowing providence of God is an eminent seat where His people sit and rejoice in His salvation.
4. From what they receive. The Lord is kind to His people in the shadow of His wings, and lets them want for nothing (Psa_84:11). (A. Shanks.)
What the Lord is to His people
1. A place of refuge. The shadow of Thy wings.
2. A fountain of joy. The mercy-seat shadowed with the wings of the cherubims brought to his remembrance God, whom he believed to be gracious and merciful, and filled him with joy in committing himself to the care and protection of His overshadowing providence. The same sacred symbol reminds us that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, and should fill us with all joy and peace in sheltering ourselves under His care and love.
3. A very present help. In believing, in praying, in doing, in suffering, were ye not helped? and it is your duty and honour to acknowledge it to His praise.
4. A quiet and sure habitation.
5. A treasure which faileth not. (A. Shanks.)
Ways in which God helps us
This verse, like an old Roman deity, has two faces, one looking backward and the other forward--the backward look of testimony and the forward look of trust. To the Romans, Janus presided over all beginnings; he opened the year, and the first month is called January after him. They represented him with two faces because every door looked two ways, and he was the opener. It would be well if we could in our soul-life put this text where the Romans saw Janus. I propose, therefore, to remind you of some of the common, usual ways in which we receive help for life, and to give these facts the religious interpretation, to regard such help as help from God. It is evident, is it not, that we could not start life without help, that we begin in utter dependence? And what is the fact, then? The fact, then, is that other lives are at our service, that when we can do nothing for ourselves everything is done for us. The mother did not make her own heart; the God who gave it her I will adore as One who plans to help me in the most wonderful of all ways. And when you come to do what men call helping yourself, making your own way, even then you are only using the various helps which are provided for you. Do you start life on the level on which a child started, say 100,000 years ago? If not, what makes the difference? That difference is made by the upward struggle of humanity from that time to this, and you are a debtor to every one who contributed to that progress. Every individual has a certain inheritance, a certain capital from the experience of the race. The gains which the ages have won are in some measure worked into the very constitution of your being. Primitive man could not, by any effort, have used his hand for purposes for which you can use yours without difficulty. You have an immense advantage there, and you got it how? Through the gradual growth of skilful manipulation during thousands of years. Natural evolution is the manifestation of mind in method; it is Gods way of doing things; it is upward creation. And further. The victories which others have won, the achievements of the past, are not only in some measure worked into the very make of our being, but they also constitute the environment of our life. Do you ever think of the help you get to live through the great privileges of a free press, of free institutions, of freedom in religion? What are all these? Are they not the purchases of the martyr spirit in bygone times? Men went down to death in order to win freedom to worship God. Again. Think of the help you may get from the lessons of personal experience; from your contact with and observation of things and men. There is scarcely a limit to what we can learn in this world. Some lessons we learn in the sunshine and some in the shadow; some in the thousand glories of a summer morning, and the deep eternal peacefulness of a cloudless sky, and some from the scowl of a tempest amid the barren desolation of the wintry blast; some we learn over the cradle in laughter and song and prophecy, and some at the graveside, in mourning and with tears. Now, I want you to think again that in all the lessons you have learned from your joys and your sorrows, from your defeats and your victories, from your hard struggles as well as from your sojourn near the still waters and in the green pastures--in all these God is the one Helper. He gave you a mind to think, a heart to feel, a world to live in, and a spirit greater than the world, able to look out over its boundaries into another. But is there still no other way in which God helps us? I think there is. It is the way which made the old Hebrews speak so much about angels; which made Paul speak of the Lord appearing to him in the night; which makes some men believe in spirits, and others talk of being struck with an idea, or having an impression. The great fact behind all these is that man often finds help arising within his soul. He may be quite alone, away from friends; he may not be aware of having been helped by any word or counsel from any one, and yet there in solitude he rises to master his trouble. Could that have happened if that man had been really a mere unit, absolutely cut off from the Universal Life? The question itself is absurd. It is only by virtue of his relation to that Universal Life that the man is a man at all. And that power which rises in him, unmediated so far as he knows, wells up from the eternal fountain of Divine life. (F. R. Williams.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 in the shadow of your wings I rejoice
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice
The writer speaks of God as if he were a bird protecting its young under his wings. AT: "I rejoice because you protect me" (See: Metaphor)
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I cling to you
"I need you" or "I depend on you"
your right hand supports me
Here, the right hand is used as a symbol of strength and power. AT: "you support me" or "you lift me up" (See: Metonymy)
translationWords
shadow
joy
right hand
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.