Psalm 61:1-8 KJV
“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. 5 For Thou, O God, hast heard my vows: Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear Thy name. 6 Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations. 7 He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. 8 So will I sing praise unto Thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.”
My thoughts and notes from a sermon in 2019 that certainly fit where we are today (and always).
David is sad and heartbroken. This could be because his son, Absalom whom he loved with all his heart tried to kill him and is now dead himself. Perhaps he wrote this song out of his sorrow for his lost son. The sweet song of sadness!
God is the source of our joy and our peace! But when we are in pain, do we genuinely believe God is in control?
The first thing David did in his sorrow (vs. 1) was to call out to God. When sorrow comes, God is our only hope! In times of overwhelming sorrow, sadness, feeling crushed we must put God as our focus. As born-again Christians we do not have to beg for God to hear us, He is already with us! He listens to my voice because I am His child. He is my help in bad times. In struggles we often look for our answers every where but Him. If we are focused on God, we will cry out to Him in our times of trouble and struggle. Look to the Lord and cry out to Him. How long has it been since you truly laid it out before Him?
David asked God for help. He was overwhelmed and felt cut off and separated (vs. 2). Trials and sorrows can make us feel that way but so can sin in a Christian’s life! When we feel depressed and far from God, often we seem to look to other things for help. But He is our only hope! David asked Him to hear him, help him, and hide him in this song.
If you keep trying to work it out on your own power, the situation will just continue or keep happening again. If you want REAL help you have to go to the ROCK. Jesus Christ is the ROCK!
If you need help today…speak to the ROCK! Cry out to Him! Ask for His help! Ask Him to hide you! In Jesus name.
In the valley David cried out to God in his sorrow for God to lift him up to high ground. Even when we bring some of the sorrow on ourselves, He is our shelter and the only One who can truly help us (vs. 3-4). Read those verses again. David started out overwhelmed and crying out for God’s help and by the end (vs. 4-8) the sorrow has been resolved and he is trusting the Lord and promising to abide in His tabernacle and before God forever! And singing His praises forever!
If you are hurting or overwhelmed today cry out to God in your sorrow and ask Him to lift you up to higher ground. Your problems will look smaller if you do. If you turn to God –a sweet song can come during your sorrow.
Finding My Way,
Sheri