Good Morning! 2010.06.24 - Psalm 61:2,3 - The Rock That Is Higher Than I

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. For thou hast

been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. (Psalm 61:2-3)

We would have to live in the eastern lands of wilderness to fully appreciate these verses. A rock that is "higher than I" is able to prevent the hot sun from bearing down directly upon a traveler caught in 110-120 degrees of heat. Away from the shadow of the rock, the sand will burn your feet.

In 1956 I traveled across Arizona and got out of the car to look at some cactus. I wondered how hot the sand was and pulled off my shoes. It was too hot to walk in. If you set the thermostat of your water heater above 108 degrees, it will be too hot for your hands. That's the temperature I have set the water heater since the days we had small children. If they are in the bathtub they won't get burned if the water is no higher than 108.

When Moses struck the rock the water came out as in our picture today. But our verses do not include water—just the shade. A rock that is "higher than I" can hide me from an enemy whose livelihood is killing and robbing. Christian hymnals include several songs about rocks. The Broadman Hymnal (©1940) that I grew up on has Rock of Ages and The Rock That is Higher Than I. Children love to sing the chorus: Jesus Is The Rock of My Salvation. Southern Gospel quartets do well on Why Don't You Lead Me That Rock?

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee -. The psalm was composed when David was driven from his home and his throne by Absalom, and was in exile beyond the Jordan, 2Samuel 17:22. Compare Psalm 42:1-11. Sometimes when you pray do you feel that God is a million miles away and you are left all alone? You work to bring God down or to move yourself closer in His direction. The Bible says: Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded (James 4:8).

See (James 4:8-10)

When my heart is overwhelmed - The word used here means to cover, as with a garment, Psalm 73:6; covered with grain - as a field, Psalm 65:13; then, with darkness or calamity, Isaiah 57:16. The meaning here is, that darkness or calamity seemed to have covered or enveloped his soul. He saw no light, he had no comfort. Compare Psalm 42:3, Psalm 42:6-7.

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I -. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. (Psalm 18:2)

I need to be led to the Rock that is higher than I. The Word of God tells us that Jesus is our Rock. (1Corinthians 10:4), and He is a lot higher than I am! What a picture we have here of the Lord!

David is in the low lands of the Philistines and not in the high lands of Jerusalem and the hill of Zion. He is at the extreme and lowest parts of the land of the Philistines. Who would want to live there for long? We must set our eyes and our hearts on a higher plain than living in the lowlands (Isaiah 33:16).

The biggest rock I ever walked on is the Stone Mountain in Georgia. What a rock! It is now a tourist center. That rock has had the power to draw millions of people to come there and spend many millions of dollars in motels and restaurants and souvenir shops—to see the rock. We would do well to spend whatever time and effort necessary to come to and live in the shadow of the rock of our Salvation: the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a radical idea but the most rewarding idea you will ever have.