Psalms 61:1-8: a reflection

1Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer. 2From the end of the earth, I will call to you when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3For you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy. 4I will dwell in your tent forever. I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah. 5For you, God, have heard my vows. You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. 6You will prolong the king’s life. His years will be for generations. 7He shall be enthroned in God’s presence forever. Appoint your loving kindness and truth, that they may preserve him. 8So I will sing praise to your name forever, that I may fulfill my vows daily.

This psalm is the prayer of a heart under strain, reaching for God from far away. Hear my cry, O God, David prays; 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. Overwhelmed and at the end of himself, he asks God to lead him to a rock higher than he can reach on his own, and he remembers what God has been: a refuge, a strong tower against the enemy, a shelter in whose wings he can hide.

Notice the images David reaches for when his heart is overwhelmed. He asks to be led to a rock higher than himself, a place of safety above his own strength, beyond his own reach; he takes refuge in God as a strong tower and hides in the shelter of his wings. When his own strength failed and his heart grew faint, he did not look within for resources he did not have; he looked up and out, to God, higher and stronger than himself, as his refuge.

That is where to turn when our own hearts are overwhelmed. There are times when we are faint, at the end of our strength, unable to steady ourselves; and in those times we need a rock higher than ourselves, a refuge beyond our own resources. God is that rock, that strong tower, that shelter. When your heart is overwhelmed and your own strength gives out, do not look only within for a steadiness you cannot find there. Cry out to God, and ask him to lead you to the rock higher than yourself. Take refuge in him, hide in the shelter of his wings, and let him be the strong tower that your own strength could never be. He is a refuge higher and stronger than you; run to him when you are faint.

Lord, David prayed, 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; and he took refuge in you as a strong tower and hid in the shelter of your wings. Teach me to turn where he turned. There are times when I am faint, at the end of my strength, unable to steady myself; and in those times I need a rock higher than myself, a refuge beyond my own resources. You are that rock, that strong tower, that shelter. When my heart is overwhelmed and my own strength gives out, keep me from looking only within for a steadiness I cannot find there. Help me cry out to you, and ask you to lead me to the rock higher than myself. Let me take refuge in you, hide in the shelter of your wings, and find in you the strong tower my own strength could never be. You are my refuge, higher and stronger than I; I run to you when I am faint.