Lead me to the Rock that is Higher than I

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Psalm 61

When I think of the words to William O. Cushing’s famous hymn, “Oh, Safe to the Rock that is Higher Than I” he must have been inspired by Psalm 61:2:

O safe to the rock that is higher than I

My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly; So sinful, so weary, thine, thine would I be;

Thou blest Rock of Ages, I’m hiding in thee.

Hiding in thee, hiding in thee—

Thou blest Rock of Ages, I’m hiding in thee.

If you have lived for the Lord for any length of time at all, you know how wonderful the picture which this great hymn paints for us.

Life is filled with deep sorrow and pain.  There are times when we may feel as if there is no one for us to turn to when we are experiencing trials and turmoil in our life.

When we need to be comforted, helped or loved and it seems as if nobody cares, that is when we become the most despairing.  Some may be lonely, sad or surrounded by family or friends who do not share the same Christian convictions you do.

Perhaps there are unbelieving husbands or wives or resentment by coworkers.  You may be grieving as you grow older and see many friends and family, whom you loved dearly, pass away.

Thrust Statement:  May we turn to God our Rock Who is higher, wiser and stronger than we are!

Transitional Phrase:  Here are 3 simple points which help us to understand the truth of Psalm 61.

1. Trusting God our Rock When We are Far-away From Home in Verses 1 & 2
   1. A Metaphor — The great Dr. Marvin E. Tate said about this Psalm; “the dominant metaphor in the psalm is that of distance from God.… a sense of farawayness from the divine presence, an at-the-end-of the earth experience.”  
      1. The “ends of the earth” represent a metaphor for when someone feels far away from God’s presence.  For the Hebrew in the Old Testament, that place where God was to be found was in Jerusalem, at the Tabernacle and later at the Temple.
      2. One of the great purposes of Psalm 61 is to help us overcome faraway feelings.
      3. Dr. Tate goes on to say “Breaking down a perceived distance and the creation of a sense of nearness and presence is a major function of prayer.”
      4. Application:  Have you ever felt like you were a million miles away from God?  Like God was on the other side of the globe?  Then pray along the lines of this Psalm and bridge the gap between you and God.
      5. Application 2:  When you feel distant from the Lord what should you do?  Draw close to God in prayer!
2. Trusting a Rock Higher Than Ourselves in Verse 2b — “…Lead me to the rock that is higher than I”
   1. A Familiar Metaphor — The idea of God being a “rock” to David is found around 20 times in Psalms.  Remember the imagery of God as a “rock” is important to David because it illustrates the safety David found while he hid in the cliffs and caves in the mountainous terrain of Israel from the evil king Saul.
   2. 2 Unique Features of the “Rock” in Psalm 61
      1. The Rock is “higher” than David — We believe this Psalm was probably written later in David’s life because it references him being king.  It’s very easy to trust in the Rock when you are down and out.  But David trusts in the Rock when he is up and out too.
         1. Application:  Do you tend to trust in your own abilities when things are going well?
         2. Application 2:  Do you have people who look to you are their Rock?  If so, we must direct them to the Rock that is higher than ourselves!  
      2. We must be led to the Rock — David said that he not only needed God to be His Rock, but He also needed God to lead him there.  None of us can come to God of our own accord, we need the Holy Spirit to draw us to God.  Jesus knew this truth well and said; “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” — John 6:44
         1. Illustration — Many years ago in England when ships still sailed the sea, mariners would often run their boats upon the jagged rocks, sinking the ship and be cast into the ocean, many of them drowning.  But they knew if they could get up the slippery rocks above the roaring tides they could find safety above.  The problem was many of them could never make it up the bluffs and so they perished.  But, at one point, a man who lived atop the cliffs carved steps into the rock face leading up to the top so the ship wrecked sailors could climb up and live.  Salvation is of God, entirely of His good grace.  If we will but trust Him we can live and be spared ruin.
         2. Spurgeon says — ”How infinitely higher than we are is the salvation of God. We are low and groveling, but it towers like some tall cliff far above us. This is its glory, and it is our delight when we have once climbed [onto] the rock and claimed an interest in it; but while we are as yet trembling seekers, the glory and sublimity of salvation appall us, and we feel that we are too unworthy even to be partakers of it; hence we are led to cry for grace upon grace, and to see how dependent we are for everything, not only for the Savior, but for the power to believe on him”
         3. Application — Do we view ourselves so helpless and needy we desperately cry for God to not only be a Rock higher than ourselves, but to also lead us to Himself?
         4. A Prayer — “Oh Lord, please lead me to the Lord!”
3. How God Reveals Himself to His Trusting People in Verse 3-4
   1. Here are 4 more metaphors which help us to understand what God is to those who truly trust Him
      1. A “Refuge” in Verse 3a — “for you have been my refuge” “This image is closest to that of God being a rock and, in fact, is frequently linked to it: “my rock, in whom I take refuge” (Ps. 18:2), “my rock of refuge” (Pss. 31:2; 71:3), “my mighty rock, my refuge” (Ps. 62:7), and “the rock in whom I take refuge” (Ps. 94:22). It calls to mind a retreat such as David used when fleeing from King Saul” — Dr. Boice
      2. A “Strong Tower” in Verse 3b — “a strong tower against the enemy” This is no mere wilderness refuge.  David has the idea of a walled city and defending himself from attacks in his own home city when threatened by hostile invading forces.  This also suggests David envisioned himself with company who helped him defend the city.
      3. A “Tent” in Verse 4a — “Let me dwell in your tent forever!”  This is a reference to the Tabernacle where the ark of God was kept.  David visualizes with his mind’s eye of faith that he is moving from the Rock refuge in the wilderness, to the fortified city of Jerusalem with its towering walls to the Tabernacle, God’s dwelling place on earth! 
      4. A “Shelter” in Verse 4b — “Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!”  In the Holy of Holies, the Ark of the Covenant had the 2 Cherubim with their wings covering their eyes as they gaze upon the Mercy Seat of God.  Remember, we previously studied this illustration speaks of not only the wings of the Cherubs but also of God Himself.  David meditates he is resting safely under the shadow of God’s wings, in the breast of God, next to the heart of God.  It was said of the Apostle John in John 21:20 — “Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”
   2. Did you notice each of these images are arranged to become increasingly warm and intimate as they draw us closer to the Person of God, even unto God’s very heart? Conclusion:  When you feel like God is a world away and you have no one else to turn unto, may we, with the eye of faith, envisage ourselves moving from the Rock of Refuge in the wilderness, to the Strong Towers in the City of our God, to the Tabernacle of Meeting into the Holy of Holies to draw ever closer to the Heart of God seeking intimacy with Him under the Shadow of His Wings!