Very naturally, then, follows the closing prayer in vv. 6, 7. The purely individual character of the rest of the psalm, which is resumed in the last verse, where the singer, speaking in the first person, represents his continual praise as the result of the answer to his petitions for the king, makes these petitions hopelessly irrelevant, unless the psalmist is the king and these prayers are for himself. The transition to the third person does not necessarily negative this interpretation, which seems to be required by the context. The prayer sounds hyperbolical, but has a parallel in Psalm xxi. 4, and need not be vindicated by taking the dynasty rather than the individual to be meant, or by diverting it to a Messianic reference. It is a prayer for length of days, in order that the deliverance already begun may be perfected, and that the psalmist may dwell in the house of the Lord for ever (_cf._ Psalms xxiii. 6; xxvii. 4). He asks that he may sit enthroned before God for ever--that is, that his dominion may by God's favour be established and his throne upheld in peace. The psalm is in so far Messianic that the everlasting kingdom of the Christ alone fulfils its prayer. The final petition has, as has been noticed above, parallels in Psalms xlii., xliii., to which may be added the personifications of Goodness and Loving-kindness in Psalm xxiii. 6. These bright harnessed angels stand sentries over the devout suppliant, set on their guard by the great Commander; and no harm can come to him over whom God's Loving-kindness and Faithfulness keep daily and nightly watch. Thus guarded, the psalmist's prolonged life will be one long anthem of praise, and the days added to his days will be occupied with the fulfilment of his vows made in trouble and redeemed in his prosperity. What congruity is there between this closing verse, which is knit closely to the preceding by that "So," and the previous pair of verses, unless the king is himself the petitioner? "Let _him_ sit before God for ever"--how comes that to lead up to "So will _I_ harp to Thy name for ever"? Surely the natural answer is, Because "he" and "I" are the same person. PSALM LXII. 1 Only upon God [waits] my soul [in] silence: From Him is my salvation. 2 Only He is my rock and my salvation, My high tower, I shall not be greatly moved. 3 How long will ye rush upon a man? [How long] will ye all of you break him down, Like a bulging wall, a tottering fence? 4 Only from his elevation do they consult to thrust him down, they delight in lies: Each blesses with his mouth, and in their inner [part] they curse. Selah.