READ: Ps. 61:1-8: … O God, hear my cry … when my heart is overwhelmed … You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower … under Your wings … He shall abide before God forever … So I will sing praise to Your name forever …
The content of this Psalm is a mixture of desperate pleading and rock-solid confidence. There is a situation of distress that causes both an appeal to the LORD, and a confidence that God shall continually be near David as king and continue to show him His faithfulness and protection.
David again experiences a distressing situation. What this refers to is not mentioned; it does fit the time when Absalom rose up against him and David had to flee far away from Jerusalem. He therefore sees himself as far removed from the place where he can hide with God.Yet wherever he is, he can still pray. He cries to the LORD in his trouble and knows that with Him he can find strength and protection (vs.3).
In addition David compares the LORD in verse 4 with a strong tower against the enemy: a place where one is safe and at the same time can overlook everything.
God’s tent in Jerusalem where the Ark stands is the place where he always will want to be in order to live in intimate communion with the LORD. There he is safe as in a shelter under God’s wings. He considers himself a favored one of the LORD (vs.6).
In the following verses David in his distress appeals to God’s special promises as spoken by the prophet Nathan in 2 Sam. 7:16: “And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” David then also answered these promises in his prayer to the LORD. 2 Sam. 7:29: “Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever …”
Now that David expresses his trust in God’s glorious promises concerning his descendants, especially those concerning his great Son, the Messiah, he also wants to give Him thanks. He does this by singing Psalms all his life, and living to God’s honor.
How do we deal with God’s baptism promises?
Singing: Ps. 61:1,3,5,6