"Lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

Spurgeon called Psalm 61 a pearl, little but precious!  David could have written this psalm during any
of the many times he was in danger, but perhaps the best context is the
rebellion under Absalom (2 Sam. 15-18). David prayed about a foe (v. 3),
protection for his life (v. 6), and the security of his throne (v. 7, where
"abide" means "be enthroned"). The psalm opens with David
crying out in distress but closes with him singing praises to God.

There was an urgency in David's cry because he was overwhelmed by what was happening
and fainting under the pressure. He was obviously not at "the ends of
the earth," but he felt that way, for he was away from home and away
from the sanctuary of God. He was describing "spiritual geography"
and his need to know the presence of God in what was going on. The image of the
Lord as "rock" is a familiar one in David's writings (Psalms 18:2,
31, 46; 62:2, 6, 7). A rock is a symbol of strength, stability, and security.

I can’t help but think of one of my favorite hymns, The Solid Rock. “My hope
is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust
the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ, the solid Rock,
I stand: all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.”  Paul told the church at Corinth that when
the people of Israel came out of Egypt with Moses that they “all ate the
same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of
that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ” (1
Corinthians 10:3-4).

David needed the Lord to “lead him”, to lead him to this Rock, to help him and
sustain him (Psalm 62:2, 6, 7). We are never so far away that we can't pray to
God, or, as in the case of Jonah, so far down (Jonah 2). David looked back at
his life and was encouraged to remember that God had never failed him in any
crisis (v. 3), and He would not fail him now. To David, God's home was the
tabernacle, the place where His glory dwelt; and David longed to be back in
Jerusalem to worship and adore his Lord (v. 4).

"I will trust in the shelter of Your wings", probably refers to the cherubim on the
mercy seat that covered the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies (Psalms 36:7-8;
57:1; 63:2, 7). David was not a priest, so he couldn't enter the Holy of
Holies, but he could abide in the Lord and find refuge in Him (Psalms 46:1;
90:1). God's "wings" provided safety right where David was, so
he didn't need his own "wings" to fly away (Psalm 55:6-8).

When David became king, he made some promises to the Lord and to the people, and he
intended to keep those promises. All during his wilderness exile, while hiding
from Saul, David obeyed the Lord (Psalm18:19-27), and he sought to be a
shepherd to the nation. Why would the Lord care for David all those years, give
him his throne, and then allow him to be replaced by his wicked son? His throne
was his heritage from the Lord (16:5-6), just as the land of Israel was the
heritage (possession) of God's people (37:9, 11, 22, 29, 34).

David’s requests in verses 6-7 relate to God's gracious covenant with David (2 Sam. 7).
The Lord promised David a throne forever and a dynasty forever (Psalm 89:36),
and this has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Luke 1:30-37; Acts 2:22-36).
David's concern was not for his own name or family but for the future of Israel
and God's great plan of redemption. His own throne was in jeopardy at that time,
but he had confidence that God would keep His promises.

"He shall abide before God forever " (v. 7) meant "May King David
live out his full life," protected by God's mercy and truth, but to
believers today it means, "May Jesus Christ reign forever!" The
throne of glory is secure, for God has set His King on His holy hill of Zion! (Psalm
2:6).

In view of this, let's follow David's example and trust the Lord, call on Him,
obey Him "day after day," and sing His praises.

God bless!