January 2
Reading: Psalm 61
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. Of David.
1 Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,
3 for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
4 Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!
Selah
5 For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6 Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!
7 May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!
8 So will I ever sing praises to your name,
as I perform my vows day after day.
In Psalm 61 David is still beset by enemies. This short song is a prayer that moves on to confidence and praise. It is the typical movement of David’s psalms.
The first two verses present a memorable context for prayer. David is crying out to God, asking to be heard “from the ends of the earth.” It is significant that King David, a man who was so close to the Lord, so often felt like God was very far away.
My daughter, Katherine, a few years ago, was in a terribly difficult time, struggling with her studies and her health and she was far from home. She called me on the phone and through tears I heard her say, “I am a puddle at the end of the world.” That is what David is saying to God in this psalm.
Have you ever felt like you are far from God, and He can barely hear you? Then you call out to God, asking Him to take you into His strong tower, into His warm tent, to shelter you under His wings. This is the right kind of prayer to pray when you feel God is far off.
Beginning in verse 5, confidence follows the prayer, and in verse 8 praise follows the confidence. Augustine writes about the godly “that when they are pressed, they should cry; and when they cry, that they should be heard; and when they are heard, that they should laud and praise God.” Is God your rock when you need a refuge?