TRUST: Psalm 61

Introduction:

We live during a time when we hear a lot about P.P.E.

What is P.P.E.? Personal Protective Equipment

It is refers to equipment used to protect a person from hazards or injury.

A football player wears a helmet to protect his head.

A police officer wears a bullet proof vest for protection from a gun shot.

A driver wears a seat belt to protect them in an automobile crash.

And the list can go on and on.

However, in all these examples, do any provide 100% full proof protect from hazards or injury.

No, but we still trust in them to provide protection.

Interestingly, we trust in things to protect us in this world with confidence; even though a 100% assurance cannot be giving.

Therefore, if we can trust in things to protect us without an 100% assurance, why can we not trust in a Holy God than can and will provide 100% protection?

Psalm 61 is a passage that shows us that God can be trusted to protect His followers and those believers have the assurance of God’s protection.

Even when circumstances around us cause us to be overwhelmed, God is there to protect us from this world.

I. We Have A Rock To Pray Too

v. 1-2a “Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed;”

Some in this world will say, “there is no need for me to tell God about my problems, because He knows them better than I do.”

Yes, that is true. God is all-knowing. However, because God knows does not mean He does not want us to pray to Him.

David says, “Hear (listen) my cry, O God; Attend (pay attention) to my prayer.”

The Bible is clear that God wants us to pray to Him:

Romans 12:12 “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;”

Ephesians 6:18 “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”

Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”

Here David showed his great need to pray to a God who knew exactly what he was going through. David expressed twice in verse 1 and 2 that he would cry out to God to hear his prayer. Meaning a pleading with God over the situation that has overwhelmed his heart.

When your heart is overwhelmed who or what do you cry out too? Do you cry out or plead with God? Or do you turn to the world and its temporary fixes that will not sustain you?

David cry's out to the Lord because he is 100% sure in his trust of God to protect him.

He said in verse 2, “When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

What or Who rather is the Rock? It is Jesus! Christ the Lord. Our Savior, Our Rock to who we look too. When we come to the Rock, we lift up eyes and we see the Light of the world and we are sure God will make a way.

The old hymn is true:

My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.

When David prayed to the Rock, he knew he would be assured of God’s safekeeping.

Trust in the Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ. He is our protection when we get overwhelmed in this world.

II. We Have A Shelter To Protect Us

v. 3-4 “For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.”

The word “shelter” here means safety or a place free from danger.

And David proclaims that God in verse 3 is “A strong tower from the enemy.”

This parallels with Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.”

Why can the righteous run to the tower/shelter and be safe? Because it offers protect from the hazards outside.

The only way a shelter can be effective is if you go into it. It is worthless to say Jesus is a shelter for us if we never go into the shelter, He provides.

And David proclaimed his trust to go into the shelter to find protection.

a. David said, v. 4a “I will abide in Your tabernacle forever.”

The word “abide” means to dwell with.

The word “tabernacle” means a tent but here it refers to God’s presence.

So, David testified that he will dwell in the shelter of God’s presence.

b. David said, v. 4b “I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.”

Here again David points to his trust in God as a refuge for him. As a young bird is protected by the mother’s wing from the hazards outside the nest. David trust the Lord to keep him safe under the wings of God.

Praise God, He still offers this protection when we abide or dwell with Him. When we come under the shelter of God we find protect from the hazards of the world. Salvation in Jesus means abiding with Him. We will face times of hardship, but our God, who has never lost a battle will be there to shelter us in His place of refuge.

Trust in Shelter of Christ. It is our protection.

III. We Have An Assurance Provided

v. 5-7 “For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name. 6 You will prolong the king’s life, His years as many generations. 7 He shall abide before God forever. Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him!”

God never leaves us wandering: (Look what David said of God) v. 5-7

a. “For You, O God have heard my vows;”

God always hears your vows or pledges. Therefore, we should be committed to fulfilling our vows or pledges to God.

Ecc. 5:4-5 “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— 5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.”

b. “You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name.”

Those who fear God receive the blessings of God. What is a heritage? It relates to inheritance. The Bible says a lot about inheritance.

When we trust in the Lord, our heritage is kept by the power of God.

c. “You will prolong the king’s life, his years as many generations. He shall abide before God forever.”

When we trust in the Lord, we dwell with Him. Not temporary but forever. He is with us where ever we go. We can resist His presence but God’s does not leave.

d. “Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him!”

David understood his works or actions could not watch over him; therefore, he request that God’s mercy and truth watch over him.

David trust the Lord not to give him what he deserved but the Lord to be faithful to him because the Lord is faithful to those who trust in.

IV. We Have A Response To Proclaim (Closing)

v. 8 “So I will sing praise to Your name forever, That I may daily perform my vows.”

We realize that God is our protector when we trust tin Him, that Christ is with us. Our response should be to praise Him.

Because David trusted in the Lord to protect Him, He praised the Lord.

When is the last time you gave praise to your Savior? When is the last time you fulfilled the vows you made to the Lord?

Only God knows the protection He gives us each day. And even when we have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we can praise Him because He is with us to provide mercy to help us.

God’s protection starts with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

He died on a cross and shed His blood to pay for your sins.

Repent of your sins and trust Him by confessing Him as Lord of your life and believe that Jesus was raised from the dead.

Then live your life knowing that Jesus is with you each day to hear your prayers and give you mercy to help you overcome this world.

There are a lot of things we trust in that do not offer 100% assurance. But let us trust in a Holy God that can and will offer 100% assurance when we trust in Him.