For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psalm 61

1 Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.

2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;
    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For you have been my refuge,
    a strong tower against the foe.

4 I long to dwell in your tent for ever
    and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
5 For you, God, have heard my vows;
    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6 Increase the days of the king’s life,
    his years for many generations.
7 May he be enthroned in God’s presence for ever;
    appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.

8 Then I will ever sing in praise of your name
    and fulfil my vows day after day.

A. Find Out:

1. How does David feel? v.2b
2. What does he ask and why? v.2c,3
3. What does he yearn for? v.4
4. Yet what does he know about himself? v.5
5. What does he ask? v.6,7
6. What does he say he will then do? v.8

B. Think:

1. What need does David apparently have?
2. How does he see the Lord as an answer?
3. How, therefore, would you describe this psalm?

C. Comment:

This psalm is a simple prayer that comes out of weakness (v.1). What that weakness is we’re not told for David simply says “My heart grows faint”. That phrase would suggest he’s rather cast down by the circumstances and feel like giving up. When he says “ From the ends of the earth I call to you” (v.2), there is a feeling that he feels distant from God. David’s cry is, therefore, a cry to be brought near to God so that God can be a refuge or place of safety to him while he feels weak. He’s known that in the past (v.3) and he knows what his place is as one who fears the Lord (v.5).

So what does he actually ask? First that God will actually hear him, will listen and take note of what he is asking. Second, that God would lead him to find the Lord (v.2c). Third, that the Lord would grant to him long life (v.6). Fourth, that the Lord would make him a ruler in His presence for ever (v.7a). Fifth, that he would be protected by the Lord’s love and faithfulness (v.7b).

These things all come from knowing what his heritage (or inheritance) was, as one rightly related to God (v.5). He knew these things should be his so he asked for them. He knew that when he took hold of these things, as God granted them, he would be able to praise God (v.8) and get on and do what he had promised God he would do.

D. Application:

1. Knowing who we are in Christ is critical to how we live.
2. When we know who we are, we can ask what we should ask.