It's a Pearl

It's a Pearl - Psalm 61 When the mind cannot find words, this Psalm can help us. David writes it when he has already come to the throne. It may be implied that this Psalm David wrote it during his forced exile from the tabernacle, that it was to David "the visible residence of God"; if so, it has been suggested that the time corresponding to its creation is that of Absalom's rebellion. Rebellion that led to a tragic death given by Joab, David did not want such misfortune. The righteous one who expels him from the holy will return to the throne of grace.

I. Hear, O God my cry.

A. David was in dire need: he cries out, raises his voice.

1. One cannot be silent, because of bitterness in the day that is despised by the beloved and close.

2. False Pharisees or so-called believers can rest in their prayers; True believers are "desirous of obtaining an answer to theirs."

3. Those who do their own thing in rituals may be satisfied when they have "said and sung" their litanies (something that is repeated briefly, orderly) and other rituals, but the "living" children of God will never "rest" "until their supplications have entered the ears of the Lord God."

4. "To my prayer heed."

5. Your prayer is shouting songs to the ears of God, which are made pleasant and delightful to Him.

6. (V.2) From the cape (extreme beginning or tip) of the earth I will cry out to you...

7. No point is too arid "no condition too deplorable (disastrous, detestable); Whether it is the end of the world or the end of life, "prayer is always available." Beautiful Jesus!

8. Praying in certain circumstances requires resolution (solve, solution) and the Psalmist puts it here: "I will cry out."

9. It was a wise resolution, because "if he had ceased to pray" "he would have become a victim of despair", "man comes to an end when he ends his prayers".

10. When my heart faints.

11. It is difficult to pray when the heart itself is drowning; In spite of everything, the man who has grace begs better on these occasions.

12. Tribulation brings us closer to God and to God to us.

13. The great triumphs of faith are achieved in the midst of the most difficult trials.

14. You know, brother, when everything has fallen upon you, affliction is upon you; it surrounds me like a cloud, swallows me like the sea, encloses me in its thick darkness; yet God is near, "near enough to hear my voice and I will cry out to Him." C.H.S.

15. When the activity of the heart is paralyzed, even temporarily, all the limbs feel it, there is a chill that makes each limb vibrate; Satan knows this well and so all his attacks are heart attacks, an effort to paralyze the very "fountain of life."

16. Then David says, take me to the rock that is higher than me.

17. Take me to You, though it seems impossible to me because of Your greatness.

18. There was a time when we were so astonished because of the sin in our souls that, although we knew that the Lord Jesus was the sure salvation from sins, yet we could not turn to Him because of our doubts.

19. The image he presents is that of one who has been surprised by the tide and who rushes to reach a higher point, and yet at every step he sees that the waves are approaching him; he hears its roar and the sand sinks under his feet, a few more minutes and the waves will have caught up with him; despair takes hold of his heart; When in the very depth of his agony, he "sees a rock above the waves."

20. "Oh, if I could reach this rock, I would be safe!"

21. And then comes the agonizing cry to Him who can save you: take me to the rock that is inaccessible (B.C.), (impossible) to me.

22. (V.3) For you are my refuge and strong tower before the enemy.

23. Experience feeds, nourishes faith.

24. What we live gives us experience and there is a growth in faith, hidden faith does not grow.

25. It is ineffably sweet (it cannot be described or explained, it is something so out of the ordinary that words cannot explain it) to remember the goodness of the Lord in our days past, because He is immutable: therefore, He continues to keep us from all evil.

26. (V.4) I will dwell in your tabernacle forever.

27. Those who reside in Jehovah's tents are to be "more sent" than the princes who live in the wards of kings"; Where do you live?

28. Best of all, our residence with God is not for a limited period, but forever; yes, forever, and ever, for time and eternity; This is our highest and most heavenly privilege: "I will dwell in your tabernacle forever."

29. "I will be safe under the cover of your wings."

30. Oh, if we had more confidence; "It could not be clearer: under such protection our rest will be uninterrupted (that it has not been interrupted, that it is continuous).

31. (V.5) For you, O God, have heard my vows.

32. God is a witness to all our vows (promises), all our good intentions, and all our solemn (great, majestic) promises of obedience.

33. What I have said or promised God I will fulfill, I cannot ignore the promises I have made to God because if we promise, on the bad day nothing will embarrass me.

34. God heard his cry and obedience, his vows, and God has given him a favorable answer, for you have given me the inheritance you bestow upon those who fear your name.

35. By not fearing you do not fulfill your vows you have nothing: we need not desire a better inheritance than that of "those who fear God".

36. (V.8) Thus I will sing your name forever.

37. David never, ever thought to turn his heart away from his thanksgiving to God.

38. Between our pleas and our vows there must be a parallel.

39. We cannot jump into prayer and limp in our vows.

40. Every day we fulfill the covenant we have made to God. Amen.