Introduction: David, the man after God's own heart, was a man of prayer. Psalm 61 is one of David's morning prayers. Often, David would get up early and meet God before the day got old. Psalm 5:3 tells us how David prayed in the morning time, "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up."
David directed his prayers toward God in the wee hours of the morning. Often, he would pour his heart out and cry unto the Lord. Such was the case in Psalm 61.
When David's son Absalom rebelled against him and the kingdom, David took refuge on Mount Zion. There, David set up a tent. We see this in verse 4, "I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever..." We understand this because the word David used here for "tabernacle" is different from the word used to describe the main tabernacle. Here, it is simply a tent. David had set up his tent as a place of worship and refuge on Mount Zion while his son was waging war against him. It was in this special place of worship David met with God regularly. In Psalm 61, we see the very heart of David during one of the darkest times in his life.
1. Read David's prayer. - Psalm 61:1-2
"Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. 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."
- Truly, David was a man of prayer. He spent much of his time on his face before God, especially in times of great trouble.
- When his son rebelled, it was definitely a time of great trouble. Absalom rebelled against his father's authority, partly because there were a number of people who convinced him he would be a better king than his father was. Like Solomon's son Rehoboam, Absalom listened to the wrong crowd. In so doing, he led a great rebellion against his father, David.
- Not willing to take the life of his son, he ran, instead, to a place of safety.
- Because of this trouble, David found that his heart was overwhelmed. It was almost more than he could take, but it was not more than God could handle.
- When David prayed this prayer, Absalom was still in full rebellion, and David was still in his tent on top of Mount Zion. The answer had not yet come, but David kept on praying.
- This Psalm contains an amazing little Hebrew phrase that is not apparent at first look. In verse 2, David says, "...lead me to the rock that is higher than I." In this phrase, David looks ahead confidently to God, believing that He is the Rock of refuge that will prove to be larger than his problem with his son. Literally, it means, "Lead me to the Rock that will prove Itself higher than I."
- Facing a seemingly impossible situation, David prayed to the Lord confidently. Why did David pray so confidently in this heart-breaking situation?
2. Hear David's confidence. - Psalm 61:3-4
"For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah."
- This is an amazing prayer, for David says that he knows God will prove Himself greater in this situation because He has proved Himself greater in the past.
- Notice he says, "for thou hast been..." To trust God in the future, he needed to look back into the past. There, he found God to be a faithful refuge. Ira Stanphill penned these words in his beloved hymn "Room at the Cross for You."The cross upon which Jesus died
Is a shelter in which we can hide;
And His grace so free is sufficient for me,
And deep is its fountain as wide as the sea.- "A Shelter in the Time of Storm" was originally penned by Vernon J. Charlesworth, circa 1880. He speaks of the shelter God provides.
The Lord's our Rock, in Him we hide,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide,
A Shelter in the time of storm. (Refrain)Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land;
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A shelter in the time of storm.A shade by day, defense by night,
A shelter in the time of storm;
No fears alarm, no foes afright,
A shelter in the time of storm. (Refrain)The raging storms may round us beat,
A shelter in the time of storm
We'll never leave our safe retreat,
A shelter in the time of storm. (Refrain)O Rock divine, O Refuge dear,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
Be Thou our helper ever near,
A Shelter in the time of storm. (Refrain)- If a Christian only looks to the future, he may find nothing but discouragement; therefore, he must look back in order to see the face of God, for in looking forward, he most always only sees His back.
3. See the reason for David's confidence. - Psalm 61:5
"For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name."
- Not only had God been there in the past for David and come through for him, but God had also heard his prayers in the past and answered them.
- David was, literally, counting his blessings during his darkest hours.
4. David knew God had a plan for him. - Psalm 61:6-7
"Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations. He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him."
- In David's lifetime, there was a time when he became extremely discouraged. The Amalekites had attacked the camp where David and his men abode and had taken captive all the women and children, stolen their goods, and spoiled their camp. The men that were with David wanted to stone him to death. When he heard this, he sat down and "encouraged himself" in the Lord.
- This meant he was reminding himself that God had a purpose for his life and that this was part of a bumpy road on which David had to travel.
- Just because Absalom was giving David trouble did not mean that God was giving up on David. As far as David was concerned, everything was still a "go."
5. In his despair, David sang praise to the Lord. - Psalm 61:8
"So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows."
- The word "so" connects the proceeding thoughts with those to follow. David was having a very tough time with a very rebellious son.
* Instead of living in his palace, he was abiding in a tent on a hill.
* Instead of ruling from his throne, he was running from his son.- Realizing that God was greater than his son's rebellion and that His purpose for David was greater than his circumstances, he decided to praise the Lord in the midst of the storm.
Conclusion: In the morning time, David directed his prayer to the Lord. It was in his prayer time God reminded him of His greatness and power. He reminded David that He had been with him in the past and had already proven Himself to be greater than David's enemies. The rebellion of his son was only one more bump on a very bumpy road.
What trial are you facing today? Let me encourage you to rise up early and cry out to the Lord from one end of the land to the other. It may only be a tent on top of a lonely hill, but it's still a place of worship and praise. Instead of looking forward toward the defeat, look back toward the victories that God has already given. Since God has proven Himself greater than you, trust Him to be greater than your trial.