The Rock That Is Higher Than I

May 17

I Samuel 8-10

Psalm 61

Proverbs 13:24-25

John 7

The Rock That Is Higher Than I

“From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength before the enemy. Let me sojourn in Your tent forever; let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.”  Psalm 61:2-4  LSB

I like the beach, but my happy place is definitely the mountains.  The beach at sunset is peaceful and I do love to sit and watch the waves coming in and out, but I am so fair-skinned that the beach always holds a little bit of trepidation for me.  I have to coat myself with sunscreen before I go out, reapply several times and then there is still the risk that I will end up looking like a lobster by the end of the day.  Sunscreen leaves me feeling slimy and the sand coats me with a gritty residue that I don’t love.  The mountains on the other hand provide the shade my skin needs and cool, crisp air that fills my lungs with freshness and cleansing.  Walking through the woods up a mountain or sitting on the back porch of a cabin overlooking the valley below nourishes my soul.  These verses often remind me of the majesty and power of my God.  My favorite hymn is “How Great Thou Art.”  The second verse captures the sentiment of this Psalm:

            When through the woods and forest glades I wander

                  And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees

                  When I look down from lofty mountains grandeur

                  And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze

                  The sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee;

                  How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

The rocks were a place of strength and refuge for David when he was running from King Saul.  David used the rocks as a metaphor for God to emphasize that God is greater and more powerful than him and he needed God’s help.  David was asking God to lead him to a place of safety, a refuge from the danger he was facing.  He acknowledged that God had been a tower of strength to protect him from his enemies in the past. His prayer wasn’t that God would take away his enemies or that he would be free from all danger.  David knew that difficulties and suffering are part of this fallen world.  We may experience periods of peace and safety in our lives, but our lives will never be completely free from problems.  They are an inevitable part of this life.  What David prayed for is that he could “sojourn in Your tent and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.”   David knew that God was the source of his protection.  No matter what happened to him, if he was in God’s tent and under the protection of His wings, he was safe.  We cannot know what tomorrow holds.  Illnesses, accidents, dangers, financial problems, relationship difficulties, etc. can come from out of nowhere.  We cannot avoid or predict every problem that may occur.  We need a “rock that is higher than I,” “a tower of strength,” and a “refuge and shelter.”  God is the only One who can provide the protection we need in times of trouble.