Psalm 61

Read Psalm 61 ESV

Who - David writes a song to the LORD.

What - This song of petition asks for the LORD to lead David to a place of blessing.  David writes a song to be sung in public worship.  

When - Unknown

Where - Unknown

Why - David is requesting the LORD to be a refuge in times of distress.  He also asks God to lead David to the rock of safety and comfort.   David desires to know and experience the LORD’S protection and fellowship.  David is also asking for the LORD’S blessing over his kingship or possibly Solomon’s.  

How - David opens with a plea to the LORD to hear him.  David expresses his earnestness for fellowship with the LORD.  He asked the LORD to lead him to the rock that is higher than David.  This is a request for safety.  In the next stanza David asks for both safety and intimacy by living under the LORD’S shelter and in His tent.  In the third stanza David pivots to requesting the LORD’S special blessing on him or the future king.  He asks God to have steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over the king.  In the last stanza David declares his praise to the Lord and commitment to covenant living.  

So What 

1. In our times of distress we can cry out to the LORD and plea for His deliverance.  The cry for the LORD to hear is not based on a questioning if he will hear, but out of an earnest longing for God to hear and act.  We know that the rock David refers to is our Lord Jesus.  He is our refuge and shelter.  
2. We do not have to ask to dwell in the Lord’s tent, for our God dwells within our tent with us.  The third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, dwells with us giving us that intimate fellowship with the three in one.  
3. Because David wrote this as a public worship song used by the levites in the temple, we to can recite/sing this song as our own prayer to God.
4. The request for steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over the king is a good one for us to ask over our children.  
5. Like David, at the end of our prayer and petitions, we should praise God and reaffirm our commitment to covenantal living as a Christian.