Originally posted: 10/27/2020

He will abide before God forever;
Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him, (61:7).

In Psalm 60, we find the nation of Israel on the brink of destruction; and in Psalm 61, King David once again is in dire straits. Both Psalms convey fear and dread, the feeling that all could be lost at any moment, that time is running out, that unless the Lord intervene, surely this is it.

Maranatha Worship put Psalm 61 to song in the early 80’s. It has remained one of my all-time favorites to this day. The song is taken verbatim from the King James version.

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
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, (61:1-2 KJV).

I have always loved this reality about Him, that He is the Rock that is higher than I. He is the only place of protection and strength, the place to run to in our times of overwhelming distress and fear. It evokes an image of strength and power, an impregnable stronghold, high above the dangers beneath. And David prayed, cried out, and asked that God would lead him to the Rock.

I thought today would be a day to consider Him as the Rock that is higher than every one of us, the Rock that rescues us and keep us safe in all our troubles; but I kept being drawn back to David’s request, asking God to establish His means of preservation …Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him, (61:7).

David made no bold declarations of making his own way to the Rock. In his weakened state, he surely realized that it was not within his own strength or ability to get to this place of protection, this place that would preserve his life; “lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

David knew his God, and so he called on what he knew that God had appointed for the nation and the individual; the guide that will Lead Us to Himself; His Lovingkindness and Truth. And of course, once again we see Jesus.

Consider Him Who Leads Us in His Lovingkindness and Truth

God had answered David’s prayer long before he made his petition; appointing Jesus Christ, His Lovingkindness and Truth, to Lead Us to Himself.

…Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him, (61:7).

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:16).

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me,” (John 14:6).

• His Lovingkindness and Truth Lead us to His deliverance and salvation.
  • You have given a banner to those who fear You,
    That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
    ⁵ That Your beloved may be delivered,
    Save with Your right hand, and answer us! …
    ¹¹ O give us help against the adversary,
    For deliverance by man is in vain, (60:4-5, 11).

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him, (Romans 5:8-9).

• His Lovingkindness and Truth Lead us to the Rock that is higher than all.
  • 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, (61:1).

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, ⁵ you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For this is contained in Scripture:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone,
And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed,” (1 Peter 2:4-6).

• His Lovingkindness and Truth Lead us to our eternal refuge and shelter.
  • For You have been a refuge for me,
    A tower of strength against the enemy.
    ⁴ Let me dwell in Your tent forever;
    Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings, (61:3-4).

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, (Romans 8:38-39).

• His Lovingkindness and Truth Lead us to faith and our inheritance in Him.
  • For You have heard my vows, O God;
    You have given me the inheritance of those who fear Your name.
    ⁶ You will prolong the king’s life;
    His years will be as many generations, (61:4-6).

…In Him ¹¹ also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, ¹² to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory, (Ephesians 1:10-12).

• His Lovingkindness and Truth Lead us to His eternal presence and preservation.
  • He will abide before God forever;
    Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him, (61:7).

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; ²⁸ and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand,” (John 10:27-28).

How do we respond to Him Who Leads Us in His Lovingkindness and Truth?

Oh, let us pray for ourselves and our nation, that all would see that He is the Rock that is higher than all; He is the Rock and there is no other; that we would not live in fear of our circumstances, but turn to Him in faith.

Do not tremble and do not be afraid;
Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it?
And you are My witnesses.
Is there any God besides Me,
Or is there any other Rock?
I know of none,” (Isaiah 44:8).

And let us ask Him to teach us to learn well from the prayers in the Psalms. Rather than succumbing to overwhelming anxieties, let us trust Him to Lead Us in His Lovingkindness and Truth. Let us pray that as He Leads Us, we will place all our faith in the Rock that is higher than every adversary we may face.

Through God we shall do valiantly,
And it is He who will tread down our adversaries, (60:12).

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us, (Romans 8:37).

Oh, how our lives will be changed as we grow in our faith in what He alone can do. Let us pray that His Word will penetrate deep into our being, that our confidence and trust would be unwavering in Him Who Leads Us in His Lovingkindness and Truth.

And as He grows us, let us pray that each and every day we would be filled with songs of praise as we choose to obediently follow Him Who Leads Us in His Lovingkindness and Truth.

So I will sing praise to Your name forever,
That I may pay my vows day by day, (61:8).

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place, (2 Corinthians 2:14).

Let’s Grow Together!