Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 71:3
Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou [art] my rock and my fortress.
3. Be thou my strong habitation ] Better as R.V., Be thou to me a rock of habitation. God is called our habitation in Psa 90:1; and the phrase may be an intentional modification of the words a rock of stronghold in Psa 31:2. But some Heb. MSS., the LXX, Symm., and Targ., read stronghold here also, and the word m‘ n ( ) so closely resembles m‘ z ( ) that the variation is probably due to accident.
thou hast given commandment ] Cp. Psa 44:4; Psa 68:28. To the three Heb. words rendered whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment correspond two words in Psa 31:2, meaning for a fortress-house. The curious similarity of the consonants in the Heb. suggests that the reading of the Massoretic Text here is a restoration of partially obliterated or faded letters: and the LXX translators, though they give a different rendering, appear to have found the same reading here as in Psa 31:2, or a closely similar one. The other Versions agree with the Massoretic Text.
my rock ] My cliff: a different word from that in the first line, recalling the ‘cliff’ ( sela) where David had been so unexpectedly delivered from Saul (1Sa 23:25 ff.). On the metaphors see note on Psa 18:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Be thou my strong habitation – Margin, as in Hebrew, Be thou to me for a rock of habitation. That is, a rock where I may safely make my abode, or to which I may resort and feel safe. In Psa 31:2, this is, Be thou my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me. The idea is the same. See the notes at that passage, and compare the notes at Psa 18:2.
Whereunto I may continually resort – Where I may take refuge at all times, in all circumstances of danger.
Thou hast given commandment to save me – There was some command, or some promise, on which the psalmist relied, or which he felt he might plead as the ground of his appeal. This may refer to some special promise or command made to the author of the psalm – and, if the psalm was composed by David, there were many such; or the reference may have been to the general commands or promises made to the people of God as such, which he felt he was at liberty to plead, and which all may plead who are the friends of God. We cannot refer, as David could, to any special promise made to us as individuals; but, in proportion as we have evidence of piety, we can refer to the promises made to alI the people of God, or to all who devote themselves to him, as a reason why he should interpose in our behalf. In this respect the promises made in the Scriptures to the children of God, may be pleaded by us as if they were made personally to ourselves, for, if we are his, they are made to us – they are intended for us.
For thou art my rock and my fortress – See the notes at Psa 18:2.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Be thou my strong habitation] Instead of maon, habitation, many of Kennicott’s and De Rossi’s MSS. read maoz, munition or defence. Be thou my rock of defence.
Thou hast given commandment to save me] Thou hast determined my escape, and hast ordered thy angels to guard me. See Ps 91:11-12.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Commandment; by which he understands Gods purpose and promise, and his providence watching to execute them; all which are as certain and powerful as a command.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. given commandmentliterally,”ordained,” as in Psa 44:4;Psa 68:28.
rock . . . fortress(Ps 18:2).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Be thou my strong habitation,…. This is very appropiately said, when David was driven out of his dwelling place, and palace at Jerusalem, by his son, as Kimchi observes. When God’s people have no certain dwelling place, which is sometimes their case, they always find one in the Lord; particularly in his heart’s love; for he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, 1Jo 4:16; and a strong habitation he is: wherefore he is called a strong rock, a strong hold, a strong tower; he is as a wall of fire around his people, a munition of rocks; his salvation is as walls and bulwarks, and his power as a garrison in which they are kept. The psalmist adds,
whereunto I may continually resort; or “may go into daily” r, in times of danger and distress, for safety; the name of the Lord being a strong tower, whither the righteous run, and are safe, Pr 18:10; and his perfections, his power, faithfulness, lovingkindness, and unchangeableness, being as so many secret chambers, where they may enter into, and hide themselves, till calamities are over, Ps 57:1; and every day indeed for food, for comfort, for refreshment and pleasure, through communion with him; and God in Christ is always to be come at: Christ is the way of access and acceptance; and through his blood, sacrifice, and righteousness, the believer has boldness to enter into the holiest of all, and go up to the seat of God, the throne of his grace; and even to enter into him himself, who has been the dwelling place of his people in all generations, Ps 90:1;
thou hast given commandment to save me; either to the ministering angels, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi interpret it, comparing it with
Ps 91:11; or rather to his Son, in the council and covenant of grace and peace; when he enjoined him the salvation of his people, which he readily agreed to, and with which David was acquainted,
Ps 40:7; of this command our Lord speaks, Joh 10:18; and to which he was obedient, Php 2:8; it may respect David’s salvation from present trouble, and his assurance of it, believing that the Lord had determined it, and by his mighty power would effect it; see Ps 44:4;
for thou [art] my rock and my fortress; see Ps 18:2.
r “ut ingrediar jugiter”, Pagninus; so Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) Rock.Better, cliff (Hebrew selah), to distinguish it from tsr, above.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Strong habitation Literally, my rock of habitation. Psa 31:2.
Continually resort Continual going to God is the only safety.
Commandment to save me This is the language of faith. If God had commanded “to save,” no man could disannul or make void the decree, Psa 44:4. God commands to be done what is promised, when the conditions of the promise are fulfilled.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 71:3. Be thou, &c. Be thou unto me for a rock of repose.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
DISCOURSE: 615
GOD A HABITATION FOR HIS PEOPLE
Psa 71:3. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort.
NO one can enter into the spirit of Davids psalms, unless he himself have been sorely persecuted and severely tried. A very great number of the Psalms were written under circumstances of deep affliction; and record either the prayers of David for protection from his enemies, or his thanksgivings for deliverance from them. This psalm was written when David, far advanced in life, was driven from his throne by his son Absalom, and was in the most imminent dan ger of falling by the hands of his blood-thirsty pursuers. But as in early life, when menaced by Saul, he had besought the Lord, saying, Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me [Note: Psa 31:1-2.]; so now, in nearly the same terms, he repeats the cry: In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear to me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort [Note: ver. 13.]. Now though, through the goodness of God, we are not brought into such imminent perils as David, yet have we occasion to adopt his language, and to seek in God that protection which no created power can afford.
Let us, in discoursing on his words, consider,
1.
The sentiment propounded
Accustomed as we are to hear the language of the Psalms, we pass by, without any particular notice, expressions which, if duly considered, will appear truly wonderful. How extraordinary is the idea, for instance, of making Jehovah, the Creator of heaven and earth, our habitation! Contemplate, I pray you,
1.
The condescension of God in suffering himself to be so addressed
[Consider, for a moment, what a habitation is. Whether it be greater or less in point of magnificence or strength, if it be ours, we have access to it as our own; we gain a ready admission to it at all seasons; we expect to find in it all the accommodations which our necessities require: we regard every chamber of it as destined for our use; we shut the door against every unwelcome intruder; and whatever storms may rage without, we lie down to rest in it, in perfect peace and safety. If we superadd the idea of a fortress, we deride the vain attempts of our enemies, and defy all the power that can be brought against us. Now, think of God as revealing himself to us under such an image; and permitting every sinner in the universe, who will but enter in by Christ as the door, to take to himself this mansion as his own. Truly, if God himself had not authorised such a representation of his character, we should have been ready to denounce it as blasphemy. That the Most High God should give even to the vilest of the human race such intimate access unto himself, seems to be perfectly incredible. Even an earthly monarch could not endure such humiliation as this: and yet the God of heaven and earth feels it to be not unworthy of him. Truly, I say again, this condescension far exceeds all that could ever have entered into the mind of man to conceive, if the voice of inspiration itself had not announced it to us. And this is the very view in which David himself speaks of it in another psalm: Blessed be the Lord, my strength, my goodness, and my fortress; my high tower and deliverer; my shield, and He in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him; or the son of man, that thou makest account of him [Note: Psa 144:1-3.]?]
2.
The comfort which man derives from this view of the Deity
[Every one, the meanest as well as the greatest of men, knows what is comprehended in the idea of a habitation. It requires no stretch of thought to grasp it: the image is familiar to every mind; and presents itself in all its bearings to every one that has felt the blessings of civilized society. But if we suppose a person to be under the pressure of heavy affliction, whether from the persecutions of men or the assaults of devils, what a comfort must it be to him to contemplate the wisdom, the power, the goodness, the mercy, the love, the faithfulness of Almighty God; and to hear him saying, Come, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut the doors about thee, and hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast [Note: Isa 26:20.]! how joyfully will he hide himself in the secret of this tabernacle; and, like the manslayer that has got within the city of his refuge, lift up his soul in adoring gratitude to God, and look with exultation on his disappointed foe!
The more we contemplate the sentiment that is here propounded, the more we shall see occasion to admire the condescension of our God, and to congratulate man upon the high privilege which is thus accorded to him.]
But it is not as an abstract sentiment that this truth is declared: it is embodied in a petition that is presented to God himself: and therefore, to view it aright, we must contemplate,
II.
The petition urged
That it is such a petition as every one will do well to offer, will appear, if we mark,
1.
The wisdom of it
[Every man has enemies to encounter; nor can any one encounter them in his own strength. But we have a vantage ground to which we may repair, a fortress that is absolutely impregnable. In our God we have not only a wall, but a wall of fire; which, whilst it protects his people, will devour their assailants. With such a habitation open to us, would it not be madness to neglect it? Should we not rather resort to it continually, yea, and abide in it, that we may enjoy the safety which is thus provided for us? If, indeed, there were any other means of safety, an option would be left us: but not all the powers of heaven and earth can save us, if we turn our back on God, to rely upon an arm of flesh. God has said, Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm: but blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is [Note: Jer 17:5-8.]. To every one, therefore, I would say, Flee to your mountain, that the flames overtake you not; and look not back in all the plain, lest ye be consumed [Note: Gen 19:17.].]
2.
The piety of it
[David renounced every other hope but that which he had in God. Nor, indeed, did he wish for any other; because he saw that God was all-sufficient for him. He saw in God a sufficiency of grace to receive him, of power to protect him, of love to supply his every need; and hence it was that he was emboldened to offer the petition which we are now contemplating. In truth, without such news of God, no one would over think of addressing him in such terms as these. There must be a just knowledge of Gods character, with suitable affections towards him, else we could never entertain such a desire as is here expressed: it is this apprehension of his excellency that could alone inspire a wish to make him, even his very bosom, our continual resort. But all who have those views of him will unite in that grateful acknowledgment, Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations [Note: Psa 90:1.].]
Address
1.
Those who have never yet had these views of God
[Truly, you are greatly to be pitied. For who amongst you can hope to escape all trouble, when it is said that we are born to trouble as the sparks fly upward? And whither will you go, when enemies assail you? where will you flee for refuge? or in whom will you find the aid which you will stand in need of? Alas! your state, whatever it may now be, will be terrible beyond expression. You will resemble the host of Pharaoh, who found at last that the God with whom they had presumed to contend was mightier than they. On the other hand, acquaint yourselves with God, and you shall be at peace, both now and in the eternal world.]
2.
Those who have resorted to him under this character
[Hear what the Psalmist says concerning you: Because thou hast made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee [Note: Psa 91:9-10.]. Truly, his name is a strong tower, to which you may run at all times, and be safe [Note: Pro 18:10.]: and whatever your circumstances may be, he will be to you as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest, as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land [Note: Isa 32:2.]. Enjoy, then, the exalted privilege which is here vouchsafed unto you. And let there not be a day, or an hour, wherein you do not resort to God under this endearing character, dwelling in him, abiding in him, and finding in him all that your necessities can require.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou [art] my rock and my fortress.
Ver. 3. Thou hast given commandment ] sc. To thine angels, and all other thy creatures; or, thou hast commanded, that is, thou hast promised.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
strong habitation = rock of habitation. Hebrew. zur, a fortified place. Some codices, with six early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read “a rock of refuge”.
whereunto I may continually resort, &c. Septuagint reads “a place of security to save me”.
rock. Hebrew. sela’. See note on Psa 18:1, Psa 18:2. Exo 17:6. Deu 32:13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
my strong habitation: Heb. to me for a rock of habitation, Psa 31:2, Psa 31:3, Psa 91:1, Psa 91:2, Pro 18:10, Isa 33:16
thou hast: Psa 44:4, Psa 68:28, Psa 91:11, Psa 91:12, Eze 9:6, Rev 7:2, Rev 7:3
my rock: Psa 18:2, Psa 144:2
Reciprocal: 1Sa 2:2 – rock 2Sa 22:2 – General Job 33:24 – Deliver Psa 90:1 – Lord Psa 91:9 – most high Psa 144:1 – my strength Isa 23:11 – the Lord Nah 1:7 – strong hold Nah 1:14 – given
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou {c} hast given commandment to save me; for thou [art] my rock and my fortress.
(c) You have infinite means and all creatures are at your commandment; therefore show some sign by which I will be delivered.