PSALM 61
David prays in an overwhelmed state verse 1- 2
Hear my CRY – O God – attend to my PRAYER
from the end of the earth will I CRY to YOU
when my heart is overwhelmed
lead me to the rock that is higher than I
David acknowledges the LORD for his strength verse 3- 4
For YOU have been a shelter for me
and a strong tower from the enemy
I will ABIDE in YOUR tabernacle forever
I will TRUST in the covert of YOUR wings SELAH
David knows about his future inheritance verse 5
For YOU – O God – have HEARD my VOWS
YOU have given me
the heritage of those that fear YOUR name
David thanks God for his extended life verse 6- 7
YOU will prolong the king’s life
and his years as many generations
he shall abide before God forever
O prepare mercy and truth
which may preserve him
David sings praises and performs vows to the LORD verse 8
So will I sing praise to YOUR name forever
that I may DAILY perform my VOWS
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (5848 “overwhelmed” [‘ataph] means to turn aside, to envelop oneself, to be feeble, be faint, covered over with darkness, distress or grow weak)
DEVOTION: Life can be full of distress. Some people state that they are trying to plan a time to have a breakdown. It is not easy living a life today. It was not easy to live in any generation.
David realizes that he has only one place to turn when everything seems to be going in the wrong direction. He is under extreme emotions stress. He thinks his world is covered with darkness. He knows that he is not as solid as he would like to be. He wants someone who is firmer. He wants a ROCK he can depend on. That ROCK is the LORD.
In this time of great stress, David turns to the LORD in prayer. He asks for help. He wants to be under the protection of the wings of the LORD. He wants to understand the LORD’S loving-kindness and faithfulness. He promises to fulfill his vows to the LORD.
Our world seems to close in on us at times. We are enveloped in all of our circumstances with no seeming way out. When that happens we have someplace to go. We need to go there. It is to the LORD in prayer. HE wants us to depend on HIM.
HE wants us to keep the promises we give HIM during our times of stress. Remember that it is better not to promise if we don’t intend to keep our promises when our circumstances change.
If we realize that we have times of discouragement and need help. We should be available to help others who are in times of discouragement. There are fellow believers around us who are fainting. Are we listening to the HOLY SPIRIT regarding our part in helping them overcome their circumstances? Are we turning to the LORD during our times of distress? HE is our ROCK!!!
If you know of individuals who are losing their jobs or homes consider taking them out to eat or taking a gift to them.
CHALLENGE: Remember to do it only if the LORD lays it on your heart otherwise you could do it grudgingly. Encourage them to count on the LORD for both salvation and strength.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 For YOU have been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. (4268 “shelter” [machaceh] means place of refuge, something or someone turned to for assistance or security, the person to whom one flees, cave, hope, trust, or from danger)
DEVOTION: David is stating a fact of life. He needs someone to turn to when things get tough. He was a leader of a nation that had many individuals who didn’t want to follow him. He had to have someone to turn to when it seems that everyone was against him.
We need the same today. There are days when we can feel that everyone has left our side and we are all alone to struggle with whatever the enemy is throwing at us. We need someone we can count on to help get us through those times.
The LORD is the one that David turned to and we should be doing the same when we feel that there is no one or no place we can go that will give us the peace that we need to face another challenge to our ministry for the LORD.
Everyone who is a believer has times in there life when it seems like everyone is against them or their circumstances are not ideal and need a person to go to for help. David has chosen the LORD and HE never let David down.
This is true in our life as well. We will have times like David when we need a shelter in a storm that the LORD allows in our life. HE wants us to come to HIM but so many times believers try to do it on their own and fail.
CHALLENGE: We all need to be like David here and realize that the LORD is there to help us through any storm HE allows in our life. HE wants us to know that we can count on HIM.
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:5 “For YOU, O God, have heard my vows: YOU have given me the heritage of those that fear YOUR name.” (“Heritage,” 3425 יְרֻשָּׁה [yârushah] possession, inheritance. [Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software]).
DEVOTION: This psalm of David represents a quiet faith in God. One of the things that he was looking forward to is God’s possession or inheritance. This is something that he would share with all those who loved and feared God’s name.
God is the one who promises us our inheritance (Ephesians 1:14). He wants us to think of our inheritance in the future in terms of two things. The first is our legacy among those we influence—our families, our brothers and sisters in the Lord, and even those who are unsaved. The second aspect of inheritance is the realization that this earth is not our home for eternity, and that we will spend eternity with Him in heaven.
Both of these should make us live in an expectant way, not living for the here and now (or even what people think about us here and now). Our inheritance is something that we look forward to receiving in the future. It was made possible by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, and by our adoption as sons by the Heavenly Father as a result of our faith in Jesus Christ. Because of this we look forward to being with the Lord (Philippians 1:23).
There is nothing wrong with wanting an inheritance. We need to make sure that we want the right inheritance, which only the Lord can give.
CHALLENGE: What is it that really motivates you? Are you living for what you can see or are you living for the future? God wants us to be wholly dedicated to being His children and looking forward to the inheritance and legacy that He wants to give us. ( Dr. Marc Wooten – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 7 “He shall abide before God forever. Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him!” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). (Abide – 3427 יָשַׁב, יָשׁוּב [yashab /yaw·shab/] v. A primitive root; TWOT 922; GK 3782 and 3794; 1088 occurrences; AV translates as “dwell” 437 times, “inhabitant” 221 times, “sit” 172 times, “abide” 70 times, “inhabit” 39 times, “down” 26 times, “remain” 23 times, “in” 22 times, “tarry” 19 times, “set” 14 times, “continue” five times, “place” seven times, “still” five times, “taken” five times, and translated miscellaneously 23 times. 1 to dwell, remain, sit, abide. 1A (Qal). 1A1 to sit, sit down. 1A2 to be set. 1A3 to remain, stay. 1A4 to dwell, have one’s abode. 1B (Niphal) to be inhabited. 1C (Piel) to set, place. 1D (Hiphil). 1D1 to cause to sit. 1D2 to cause to abide, set. 1D3 to cause to dwell. 1D4 to cause (cities) to be inhabited. 1D5 to marry (give an dwelling to). 1E (Hophal). 1E1 to be inhabited. 1E2 to make to dwell. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: When I first moved to Chicago I use to go out to the forest preserves and sit on a park bench. The bench overlooked a pond set in the forest and reminded me of home. I knew I was supposed to be in the city but the quiet and solitude of the forest helped me to abide here. I would sit, read and pray there sometimes for a couple of hours. It was a place of solitude and reflection. After some time I frequented that place less often and became acclimated to the pace of the urban setting.
David desired to abide before the presence of God forever. He knew that in His presence there was safety and solitude. In that time of solitude could sense and know the Lord’s ways. That place enabled David to confidently move forward with his work of ruling the country.
CHALLENGE: Do you need to find a place where you can abide in the presence of the Lord today! It might be out by a lake or sitting in a booth at a coffee shop but take time to abide with the Lord and know his security!
(Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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: 8 So will I sing praise to YOUR name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. (3117 “daily” [yown] means daylight, a unit of time from sunset until the next sunset, lifetime, today, time period, or a time period defined by evening and morning.)
DEVOTION: David was a very talented young man. He could sing and play musical instruments. He could fight even giants with the help of the LORD. He could rule a nation. He could sin. He could run from an enemy.
However, we find that he was one who trusted the LORD regularly. Here we find that he wants to DAILY worship the LORD. He wanted to sing praises to the LORD each day, no matter the circumstances he found himself in.
We need to realize that we have to have a daily time when we sing praises to the LORD. Now some of us don’t sing on key but that should not stop us from singing. Some people have told me that I should sing far, far away but I have always enjoyed singing. I cannot carry a tune but that has never stopped me.
When I was going through some tough times I would still sing. I would sing with no one around but I would still sing. I wish the LORD had given me a good voice but HE gave me other gifts.
David had the gift of singing and he used it. He also made promises to the LORD and he kept them. Once we promise we need to make sure that we are willing to follow through and keep them.
God wants us to be faithful servants to HIM. HE knows that we sin on a daily basis but if we go to HIM each day we can leave our sins with HIM and sing praises because of the forgiveness HE gives us.
Our responsibility to is to keep short accounts with God which means daily meet with HIM to keep our relationship fresh.
Are we meeting with the LORD each day to keep our relationship with HIM fresh? Are we keeping our promises to HIM? We need to have a singing of praise type of relationship with HIM on a daily basis.
CHALLENGE: Keep short accounts with the LORD. Our life should be full of singing praises to the LORD daily.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Prayer of David verse 1- 8
Cry
Heart is overwhelmed
God is a shelter
God is a strong tower
Abide in tabernacle forever
Trust in the LORD
Heard his vows
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Tabernacle verse 4
David will sing verse 8
David will pay his vows verse 8
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 1, 5, 7
ROCK that is higher than him
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Enemy verse 3
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Heard verse 1, 5
Prayer [cry] verse 1, 2
Overwhelmed verse 2
Ask for direction from the LORD verse 2
Shelter verse 3
Strong tower verse 3
Abide verse 4, 7
Trust verse 4
Vows verse 5, 8
Heritage verse 5
Fear of the LORD verse 5
Abide verse 7
Mercy verse 7
Truth verse 7
Preserve verse 7
Sing praise verse 8
Perform vows verse 8
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
David – author of this Psalm verse 1- 8
Wants the LORD to hear his cry
Wants the LORD to
attend to his prayer
He is overwhelmed
Wants the LORD to lead him
Prolong his life
Perform vows
Tabernacle verse 4
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Abide before God forever verse 7
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QUOTES regarding passage
3, 4. God’s safe keeping is viewed here in increasingly personal terms, as the aloof ruggedness of the high crag of verse 2 gives place to the purpose-built tower of verse 3, and this in turn to the hospitality of the frail tent (4) with its implication of safety among friends; and finally the affectionate, parental shelter symbolized by thy wings. This, against all appearances, is the best security of all: cf. on 57:1. And, in spite of rsv, it is more than a fond wish: verse 4b is as confident a prayer as 4a. (Kidner, D. (1973). Psalms 1–72: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 15, p. 237). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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61:3–4. David found comfort in the character of the Lord. As his Refuge (maḥseh, “shelter from danger”; cf. comments on 14:6) and high Tower God had defended him against his foes. Now, however, the psalmist longed to dwell in God’s presence (in His tent and under His wings; cf. 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 63:7; 91:4, like a bird protected by its mother). This is the most secure place of refuge. (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 839). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Ver. 4. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever, &c.] Under the protection of the Lord, as in a shepherd’s tent, or as in one belonging to a general of an army, where are fulness and safety; see the note on Psal. 27:5. or else the tabernacle of the congregation is meant; the house of God, the place of divine and public worship, where he desired and determined always to continue, Psal. 23:6. or else the tabernacle which was prefigured by that below, where he knew he should dwell to all eternity. Kimchi, by for ever, understands a long time; and Jarchi explains it both of this world and of the world to come; which is true, understanding the tabernacle of the church below, and the church above. I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. Or, in or into the secret of thy wings; this he determined to make his refuge for the present time, and whilst in this world; see the note on Psal. 57:1. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 774–775). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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3–5. Are not all these well known (and may I not add, Reader, well proved, in your soul’s experience) characters of the Lord Jesus? Is not Jesus the hiding place, and the covert, and the strong tower, and security, of all his redeemed? Pray look at those sweet scriptures: Isaiah, 32:2. Psalm, 18:1, 2, &c. And, Reader, while Jesus thus appears as the only sanctuary of his people, let you and I pause and ask each one his own heart, Can we adopt this language? Do I really abide in Jesus? and do I truly trust in him for the whole of my life and salvation? John, 15:4. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Job–Psalms (Vol. 4, p. 351). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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What is edification? It is not the increase of thoughts, ideas, or doctrine. Edification is when our spirit touches God’s Spirit. (p. 109)
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A hard person does not receive help easily. Only those who are pliable will receive help easily. (p. 110)
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The more help a person can receive and the broader the scope of supply he draws, the more we can say that he is a broken man. Those who hardly receive any help from anyone are not wiser than others. It only proves that their outer shell is harder than others’ and that nothing can arouse them. (p. 111)
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Fellowship is not a communication of the mind with the mind or an exchange of opinions; it is the contact of spirit with spirit. When our spirit touches another brother’s spirit, that contact of the spirit is fellowship. (p. 111)
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If our outer man is broken and our inner man released, we will touch the spirit of the church, and we will be more useful to the LORD.
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The outer man must be broken before the inner man can find freedom. This is the fundamental path that a servant of the LORD must learn to take. (p. 116)
(The Breaking of the outer man and the release of the Spirit by Watchman Nee)
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In so many churches today, theological themes have been forsaken for inspirational, therapeutic, and practical ones. These are what are considered “relevant.” Worship, as a result, then becomes a blend of inspiration and entertainment offered up in a musical form that correlates with the generational niche into which the particular church wants to settle. (p. 190-1, God in the Whirlwind, by David Wells)
There is a purpose, a different purpose, for the church’s gathering. It is to give glory to God, to be renewed in his presence, to be instructed, to remember Christ’s death, and to remember again our place among the people of God. (p. 191, God in the Whirlwind, by David Wells)__
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Dividing Light from Darkness
“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:3-4)
Initially, the created cosmos was in darkness—a darkness that God Himself had to create (“I form the light, and create darkness”—Isaiah 45:7). But then the dark cosmos was energized by the Spirit’s moving, and God’s light appeared. The darkness was not dispelled, however, but only divided from the light, and the day/night sequence began, which has continued ever since.
This sequence of events in the physical creation is a beautiful type of the spiritual creation, “a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Each individual is born in spiritual darkness, but “God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). We are now “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light,” because He “hath delivered us from the power of darkness” (Colossians 1:12-13).
However, the light in the primeval darkness resulted only in a division of night and day. The night still comes, but God has promised that in the coming Holy City, “there shall be no night there” (Revelation 22:5).
Just so, even though we have been given a new nature of light, the old nature of darkness is still striving within, and we have to be exhorted: “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). Nevertheless, “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18). When we reach that city of everlasting light, all spiritual darkness will vanish as well, for “there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth” (Revelation 21:27), and we shall be like Christ. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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