The Rock That Is Higher Than I
In tough times what enables you to endure? The answer is God Himself. He is the Rock that is bigger and more powerful than you. He is inaccessibly high, and exalted over the affairs of mankind. No situation in life is bigger than God.
In Psalm 61 David is overwhelmed by his situation and feeling distant from God (61:1-2). Though he feels far away, he prays with confidence for God to lead him to Himself (61:2). He does not despair but remembers the nature and promises of God (61:3-4). The faithful believer has God Himself as his refuge and strong tower. God loves His saints and they are protected by his power (61:3-4; 1 Peter 1:5). David pleas with God to allow him to continue to abide in His presence (“tent” = “tabernacle”) (61:4). Brethren, David lived under the Old Covenant while we live under the New. In order to be in God’s presence, David had to go the place God’s presence dwelt among His people. In the New Covenant, Jesus is the tabernacle/temple of God (Jn 1:14). He is the “place” that God dwells among His people. If you are a Christian, then you abide in Christ and His Spirit abides in you (Jn 15:5). No matter what you face in this life, you are always in the presence of God.
David also prays confidently for God to bless his dynastic lineage forever. This may seem like an extremely self-seeking prayer; but David is actually praying God’s promises back to Him (2 Sam 7:6) (61:5-7). He counts himself as a believer in God, and one who has received the blessings that come from this fact (61:5). In light of these, David praises God’s name every day confident in God’s love and protection (61:8).