Psalm 61

¹ Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
² From the ends of the earth will I call unto you, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
³ For you have been my refuge, a strong tower from the enemy.
⁴ I will dwell in your tent forever I will take refuge in 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 Increase the days of the king’s life, his years for many generations.
⁷ May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.
⁸ Then will I ever sing praise to your name and fulfill my vows day after day.

This is another Psalm that David wrote during one of the times that he was facing opposition from his enemy. It is interesting as one studies David life how much of his struggles dealt with those close to him, such as Saul, his own family, and his own group of advisors. Yet as we look at the struggles we face in live, they are usually with the close circles of family, whose whom we work with, neighbors, or the groups that we associate with in our free time.

As I study this psalm today, I realize the importance of a King in my life. Aging is a process in which we see the world of an infant expand from a small family unit into the community around him and then deflate in the later years back to the small family unit or a close inner circle of friend. In this process, man moves from a secure environment to a world of uncertainty and then tries to move back to a secure environment in his later days on this earth. Security is the second level on Maslow’s Hierarchic Pyramid of Needs. It is this area that people seek to conquer once their Physiological needs are met. However, the Psalmist realizes that it is the good Shepherd that meets both our Physiological needs as well as our secure needs. This good shepherd person is also our King Christ Jesus.

As we study the gospels we are introduced to Christ. So, as I study this psalm today my prayer is simply to be more like Christ. My prayer is to abide in him. John writes these words to us in I John 3:6-8:

Whosoever abides in him sins not: whosoever sins hath not seen him, neither knoweth him. My little children let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous: he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Yes, I know I need a King in my life and that King is Christ. He is the one I praise and the one to whom I will seek to fulfill my vows. The key to serving him is for me to put off the old nature and strive to put on his nature. This starts by striving to live a blameless (however not perfect) life.

Psalm 60

¹ You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us; you have been angry-now restore us!
² You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking.
³ You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger.
⁴ But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow. Selah
⁵ Save us and help us with your right hand that those you love may be delivered.
⁶ God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Succoth.
⁷ Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter.
⁸ Moab is my washbasin, upon Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
⁹ Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?
¹⁰ Is it not you, O God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?
¹¹ Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.
¹² With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.

This psalm is similar to Psalm 108.

1 My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.

2 Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.

3 I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.

4 For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth.

6 Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.

7 God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Succoth.

8 Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter.

9 Moab is my washbasin, upon Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

10 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

11 Is it not you, O God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?

12 Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.

13 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.

You should study the places mentioned in this psalm. They will help you grasp a greater understanding of God’s redemption plan for mankind.

• Shechem is used about 60 times in the Bible. It was the place of Joseph’s tomb
• Succoth is used about 17 times in the Bible. It was the first camp for Israel after they left Egypt.
• Gilead is used about 129 times in the Bible. It was the land that the Gadites and Reubenites settle on the east side of the Jordan.
• Manasseh is used about 136 times in the Bible. The name of the first born of Joseph in Egypt and one of the thirteen tribes of Israel.
• Ephraim is used about 147 times in the Bible. The name of the second born of Joseph, but the one that Jacob blessed as the first born. Joshua was from this tribe. Referred to as the tribe of Joseph in Joshua 18:11 and Revelation 7:8.
• Judah is used about 797 times in the Bible. The tribe of David and of Christ.
• Moab is used about 181 times in the Bible. Moab was the son of Lot and his oldest daughter. Ruth, David’s great grandmother was a Moabite.
• Edom is used about 131 times in the Bible. The name of the descendants of Esau the son of Isaac and the twin brother of Jacob (Israel).
• Philistia is used about 10 times in the Bible. It is the land of the Philistines.