Prayer of Trust in God’s Protection – Part 2

Psalm 61

Pledges to the Divine Protector in response to his petitioning of His God David pledges two things: continual abiding with God and confidence in God as his sanctuary. Man’s relationship with God is not a one way avenue of blessings flowing in man’s favor with no reciprocation on man’s part. If security is found in the Father, His children are obligated to stay with Him and trust in Him. As in marriage or in family, the fulfilling of mutual obligations is essential in order for the relationships to work. Fellowship with God has its benefits and its responsibilities.

■ Continual Abiding With God

First, David has obligated himself to dwell in God’s presence continually. Before the building of Solomon’s Temple, the tabernacle embodied the heart of worship. It stood as a symbol of God’s presence. Although he could not literally live in the Tabernacle since he was not of the tribe of Levi, David vowed to remain in the fellowship of God and never to leave. The tabernacle is also a type of heaven where God is and Christ is ruling over His Kingdom (Heb. 9:8,9,24).

■ Confidence in the Protection of God

David’s second promise to God in this prayer: “I will trust in the shelter of Your wings” (61:4b). Envision a hen with her clutch of baby chicks. A hawk circles above in search of easy prey. The hen calls out a warning and all the chicks come running and gathering for shelter under the safety of her wings. When troubles threaten, men will run to wealth, depend on their inner strength, turn to friends and family, clutch a bottle of booze, or down a handful of pills. All this can be as vain and useless as little chicks running into a foxes den to escape the chicken hawk. Jesus longed to help the Jews in Jerusalem who are about to cry out for His crucifixion. However, they were unwilling to heed His warnings. He lamented, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling” (Mt. 23:37).

Pause-Ponder-Profit: Selah

The psalmist desires the singing to pause for a moment in order for the worshiper to meditate on what has been said thus far in this prayer. The worshiper may at this point examine his own relationship with God by asking himself: “When I am overwhelmed and drowning in the threatening storms of life do I plead with God hear my prayers?” “Do I trust God to be my rock of refuge, my shelter of safety, and my firm fortress against foes?” “Will I continually maintain fellowship with God through it all?” “Do I have confidence is God’s ability to protect?”

Past, Prospective, and Present Hope in Divine Promises

David’s faith in God’s ability to hear and answer his prayer is founded upon the past, prospect, and present blessings of God.

▸ Past Hearing of Prayers

David knows from his past dealings with God that his vows have been met with Divine approval. “For You, O God, have heard my vows” (61:5a). Sincere and lawful promises to serve God according to His will have been accepted. Whenever one prays and promises God something he needs to keep that vow. First all God always keeps His promises and He will remember and hold us accountable for ours. The day one became a Christian they made a commitment to Christ. Anytime anyone enters into fellowship with God he is vowing to keep the terms of fellowship: obedience.

▸ Past Fellowship for Obedience

God has in the past given David a place of fellowship because he is among those who are God-fearing. “You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name” (61:5b). God is the one who gives fellowship and then only when the recipient has met the conditions. All those who respect God’s name are in fellowship with Him. When one obeys the Gospel plan of salvation God adds them to His church, they are born again into His family, become members of His body, etc. Paul said this of the Gentiles who were baptized into Christ, “that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” (Eph. 3:6). This of the saints heritage has been made possible by the blood of Christ which reconciles us back to God.

▸ Prospect of a Long Life

Not only does David have confidence in the prospect of God keeping him alive but has hope in a long life. “You will prolong the king’s life, His years as many generations” (61:6). Many may have sought the life of David, God would not only protect him now but long enough for him to see his grand children and even perhaps the birth of great-grandchildren. In general the blessing for the righteous is a long life whereas the wicked have the prospect of an early grave. “Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many” (Prov. 4:10).

▸ Prospect of Eternal Life

The Christian as part of the royal priesthood has the hope of living and reigning with Christ forever (Rev. 1:5). Speaking of himself, David, hoped “He shall abide before God forever” (61:7a). Even if a saint is to die he has the hope of living forever.

▸ Present Hope

Finally, David expresses his current hope in God’s blessings. “Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him!” (61:7b). This current threat to David would not be the last. He knew God had already prepared to save and assist him in the future. God has prepared a great deal of mercy for those in fellowship with him. The blood of Christ cleanses us continually. “But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 Jn. 1:7). God has prepared all truth for us so we need not look elsewhere (2 Tim. 3:16,17; 2 Pet. 1:3). The children of God are under the protection and preservation of God’s mercy and truth.

Promises to the Divine Protector

 Praising of the Divine Name

Based upon what David knows God has done, will do, and is presently doing for him, he will in turn make to promises to God. First, “So I will sing praise to Your name forever” (61:8a). Joshua made his resolution to serve God and encouraged others to join him. “And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15). Because his prayer will be answered, David’s singing will be perpetual. Eternal praise for an eternal God who will give eternal life. Praising God forever in heaven comes from a resolve to praise him continually on earth.

 Performing Vows Daily

Talk is cheap, but David plans to back up his praise of God with performance of his duties to God.

“That I may daily perform my vows” (61:8b). Life is filled with daily duties. This is very true of the Christian life. He must pray requesting his daily bread, pray daily, take up his cross daily, etc. Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). The saint has no days off and cannot go on vacation from the Lord. As God is at every moment doing His part, His children must be hard a work every day.

This psalm opens with cries to be heard and helped in a present time of need and ends with a present praising and performing of duties to God who hears and helps. This is a perfect prayer for all the saints of all ages who find themselves in need of the Divine Protector.

– Daniel R. Vess

 

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