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Commentators have positively perverted this whole Psalm. They have put it all down to David; but it is a beautiful dialogue between Christ and His Church, — He addressing her as her Advocate and Intercessor amid all her troubles.

I. CHRIST'S RECOGNITION OF HIS PEOPLE IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE. All have to bear trouble, but the believer has a God to go to. His troubles arise from his inflexible enemies, the world and its children, the devil, the flesh. And from his spiritual conflicts when first brought to conversion. The thunders of Sinai, the Slough of Despond — these are some of his troubles at such time. And when he is pardoned and hugs his pardon in his bosom, there are some troubles yet, through miserable backslidings.

II. THE EXCITEMENT WHICH OUR INTERCESSOR GIVES US TO PRAYER. "The Lord hear thee"; this intimates that we are already excited to earnest prayer. For our encouragement let us remember Christ's constant intercession on our behalf in heaven.

III. THE APPEAL WHICH THE INTERCESSOR MAKES TO OUR COVENANT HEAD. "The name of the God of Jacob defend thee." Who is the God of Jacob? The God that gave him the blessing of the birthright, though he was the junior; the God that delivered him from the murderous hand of his brother in the day of his trouble; the God that enriched him with Laban's spoil, and gave him the desire of his heart; the God that protected him, and manifested Himself to him — his covenant God. How I have been delighted with the thought that Jehovah should recognise the unregenerate name! — for Jacob was the name of the patriarch in his unregeneracy.

IV. THE DEMAND FOR OUR DEFENCE. "The name of the God of," etc. But you say, how will the name of the God of Jacob defend me? Try it: I have over and over again; therefore I speak what I do know, and testify what I have seen. "The name of the God of Jacob defend thee." Get encircled with covenant engagements and covenant grace, and covenant promises, and covenant securities; then will "the Lord hear you in the time of trouble, and the name of the God of Jacob will defend you."

(Joseph Irons.)

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KJV: {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

WEB: May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high,