March 27, 2009

• Hear my cry

  Psalms 61:1-8  For the leader. With stringed instruments. By David: Hear my cry, God; listen to my prayer.  (2)  From the end of the earth, with fainting heart, I call out to you. Set me down on a rock far above where I am now.  (3)  For you have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength in the face of the foe.  (4)  I will live in your tent forever and find refuge in the shelter of your wings. (Selah)  (5)  For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.  (6)  Prolong the life of the king! May his years go on for many generations.  (7)  May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever! Appoint grace and truth to preserve him!  (8)  Then I will sing praise to your name forever, as day after day I fulfill my vows.

  If you are overwhelmed today, you are not alone.  You are not unique. David went through times of deep depression. Elijah was used to do great miracles, yet fleeing from Jezebel he became greatly depressed and wanted to quit (1Ki. 19).

  We all get overwhelmed by so many things. For some of us it might be problems in our relationships.  For others it’s troubles at work.  For some it might be finances.  Some of us have lost a loved one.  Some may be struggling with illness.

  David looks back on HaShem’s past help to strengthen him in the present situation that he finds himself in.

  The wings might refer to the wings found in the tabernacle, the wings of the cherubim on the Ark. They were over the mercy seat – the throne of grace. This was the place where God would meet with man.

  Exodus 25:20-22  The k’ruvim will have their wings spread out above, so that their wings cover the ark, and their faces are toward each other and toward the ark-cover.  (21)  You are to put the ark-cover on top of the ark. “Inside the ark you will put the testimony that I am about to give you.  (22)  There I will meet with you. I will speak with you from above the ark-cover, from between the two k’ruvim which are on the ark for the testimony, about all the orders I am giving you for the people of Isra’el.

  The focus now is the praise of HaShem and not the situation. The Psalms often begin in despair and end in joy as the Psalmist gets re-focused and puts things in the proper perspective. When we go through a difficult time, cry out to HaShem those things that are upon your heart, and as you get re-focused and rest upon the Rock, praise will then flow from your life!

  How do we get from being overwhelmed to praising HaShem? For David, the answer was in prayer.

  Prayer isn’t your last resort, it’s your best resort.

  Mathew Henry wrote, “Weeping must quicken praying, and not deaden it.”

  Yeshua was a man of Prayer. In His greatest time of difficulty, when His heart was overwhelmed, He prayed.

  Luke 22:39-46  On leaving, Yeshua went as usual to the Mount of Olives; and the talmidim followed him.  (40)  When he arrived, he said to them, “Pray that you won’t be put to the test.”  (41)  He went about a stone’s throw away from them, kneeled down and prayed,  (42)  “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, let not my will but yours be done.”  (43)  There appeared to him an angel from heaven giving him strength,  (44)  and in great anguish he prayed more intensely, so that his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.  (45)  On rising from prayer and coming to the talmidim, he found them sleeping because of their grief.  (46)  He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you won’t be put to the test!”

  Is your heart overwhelmed?  Don’t sleep.  Pray.

  Shalom

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