Comfort in Exile
Psalm 61:4-5
I will abide in your tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of your wings. Selah.…


1. The Lord can give such satisfaction to a sad heart in the time of its trouble, that the trouble may turn to be no trouble, even while it lieth on still, as here is to be seen in David's comfort, who speaketh as if he were restored, while he is yet in exile.

2. Spiritual consolations in temporal troubles do both give satisfaction to a soul for the present and for the time to come, for everlasting happiness; "I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever": his hope is, that not only he shall be restored to the fellowship of the saints, at the tabernacle in Jerusalem, but also that he shall be in God's company in heaven, represented by the tabernacle, and that for ever.

3. True consolation standeth not in earthly things, but in things heavenly, and things having nearest relation thereto; for David's comfort was not so much that he should be brought to the kingdom, as that he should be brought to the tabernacle, and to heaven by that means.

4. Sincerity setteth no term-day to God's service, or to the seeking of communion with Him.

5. The ground of all spiritual consolations is in the mercy and grace of God offered to us in Christ, represented by the wings of the Cherubims stretched out over the mercy-seat; there faith findeth a rest and solid ground, able to furnish comfort abundantly: "I will trust in the covert of Thy wings."

6. Access to God in prayer, and approbation of the conscience, and the sincere pouring forth of the heart melting with present felt sense of God's love, do strengthen greatly the assurance of everlasting communion with God; "For Thou, O God, hast heard my voice."

7. As spiritual comfort in time of trouble granted to a believer is indeed the earnest of everlasting life, so should they to whomsoever the earnest is given make reckoning that by this earnest the inheritance is confirmed unto them by way of possession begun: "Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear Thy name."

8. The inheritance of the chief of God's servants, and of the meanest and weakest of them, is one; the right of every believer is alike good, albeit the hold laid upon the right by all is not alike strong; and what the strongest of the godly do believe for their own consolation and salvation, the weakest may believe the same to belong to every believer that feareth God.

(D. Dickson.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

WEB: I will dwell in your tent forever. I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah.




Past Mercies Earnests of Future Ones
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