Psalm 61

This is a Psalm of David.  David is a man’s man, so to speak.  He killed 200 Philistines on his own once.  He led an army.  He ruled a nation.  But he also knew the love of a friend, a peer, Jonathan; and he knew the overwhelming grief of Jonathan’s death.  He knew the heartache of family turmoil and the death of grown sons.  He knew what it was to be used and exalted by God, as in the killing of the giant.  He knew what it was to be severely rebuked and humbled by God, as in the tragedy that surrounded his first attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.  He knew the trouble he brought upon his family and the citizens of his kingdom by his own selfishness and pride.  He had numerous situations in his life whereby he might have said, “My heart is overwhelmed.”  And apparently he is in the midst of one of these overwhelming situations.  And in that moment he is crying out to God.

And what does he cry?  Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  Think about that for a moment.  What insight!  He is in the “slough of despond” or on the “narrow way” or whatever you might call it.  He has looked inside himself and what he sees is a heart that is weak, faint, and unable to advance.  This tells us that he is not ignoring the situation or blaming it on others or making excuses for himself.  He is facing it head on but it has overcome him.  He does not see in himself the resources to go on. 

What does he do but to look outside of himself?  He cries out to the God that he has learned to trust.  In smaller ways perhaps, or at least what he now might consider easier situations than what he now faces, God has sheltered him.  God has been the strong tower in which he has found protection from the enemy.  God has blessed him in the past and he anticipates will do so for years to come.  But he does not say, “God, get me out of this mess and back where I was before.”  He does not simply say, “God, protect me.”  He says, “God, advance me.  Take me to a better place than I was before my heart was overwhelmed.  LEAD ME to the rock that is higher than I.”  What a prayer for these “defining moments” in our lives.

Note the commitment, the faith of David.  I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.  In v7 abide means to sit down, to remain, to be in a restful situation.  In v4 abide is a different Hebrew word that has the idea of turning aside, as in turning off the road to a place of lodging.  David is saying he will turn aside to the place of fellowship with God.  He will seek God in the place of His dwelling.  The wings that he trusts in for shelter are not those of the hen that covers over her chicks in time of trouble.  That’s a nice picture, but here these wings are those of the cherubim that cover over the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle.  David pleads with God to lead him; he then commits to a relationship with God in which God can lead him.  For David this happens via pilgrimage, going to the temple.  For us this happens via our communion with God in the word and prayer.

Lastly note the effect of this approach to the overwhelming moments in our lives.  David has a confidence that God, by His mercy and truth (v7), will preserve him.  He will preserve him forever as an object of praise to God; and He will preserve him daily in faithful service to God (v8). 

How do we handle these overwhelming situations?  Do we face up to the realities of the situation?  Do we cry out to Someone who is trustworthy?  Are we pleading with Him, not simply to get us unstuck, but to lead us to a higher place?  Are we submitting ourselves to God so that we are able to be led?