LEAD ME TO THE ROCK

Many times we think about our situations … our condition … what has happened to us. We may look around and see what seems to be waves of challenge and obstacles coming against us, and we wonder how we will ever make it.

And I could stand here today and focus on those issues … those obstacles.

But today I want to focus our hearts, our minds, our energy into recognizing and embracing what our heart CALL should be during those moments … and realize what God is going to do.

[Read Psalm 61]

The Psalmist wrote this and sang this, beginning with a request to God … “Hear my cry, pay attention to my prayer”.

He felt like he was calling from the ends of the earth … or from a distance. It was their way of saying they felt the farthest possible away from God.

In that moment he recognized that his heart didn’t have any more courage. His heart couldn’t muster up the enthusiasm to keep on keeping on. He was mentally and spiritually exhausted, and he knew it!

In that moment … he asked God to lead him to a rock that was high above him. In other words … lead me to a rock that is too high for me. A rock that is inaccessible to me by my own power, and thus inaccessible to my enemies.

When set upon that rock the person can look down upon the swirling waters of controversy, anger, frustration, exhaustion and more. It is a high place where one can “rise above” the fray that still surrounds, but no longer has access to them.

The Psalmist reminded himself how God had been a refuge for him, a strong tower in the very face of his enemy. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of WHAT God has done in our lives! And this is why your own testimony is powerful. In fact, Rev 12:11 talks about those who will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.

When we remind ourselves of what God has done … how God has seen us through … how God has sustained us … we cannot HELP but praise Him, love Him, exalt Him, lift Him higher. Oh, be lifted higher! Jesus, You be lifted higher!

The Psalmist wanted to dwell in God’s presence … to be protected under his “wings”, if you will.

And then I want to connect v.5 and v.8 for us today.

God had heard the vows that we have made to Him. And He gives a heritage to those who fear (honor, respect) Him.

This would include blessings both temporal and spiritual. For the people at the time of this writing it would include the possession of the land of Canaan.

But in v.8 the Psalmist moves beyond remembering that God has heard the vows made, and the Psalmist speaks in both a current and ongoing sense by saying that he will be fulfilling his vows day by day.

What a wonderful combination: 1) God will place us upon a high place above the cares and attacks of this world, and 2) We are continually singing of His name while fulfilling our vows day by day.

Oh lead me to the rock, the rock that’s higher. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.