Psalm 61 — The faith of another helps us grow
For the Chief Musician; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David.
1 Hear my cry, O God;
Attend unto my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth will I call unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed:
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For thou hast been a refuge for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
4 I will dwell in thy tabernacle for ever:
I will take refuge in the covert of thy wings. Selah
5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows:
Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
6 Thou wilt prolong the king's life:
His years shall be as many generations.
7 He shall abide before God for ever:
O prepare lovingkindness and truth, that they may preserve him.
8 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever,
That I may daily perform my vows.
This cry for help comes from a great confidence in God. The faith and trust grows from David's past experience. Yet, even if you and I have not lived through the sort of salvation seen by David, his confidence can be our confidence. That's the power of many of the psalms. The faith found in the author grows in the reader. We gain with their faith.
David well knows the help found in God. In this psalm, as he reiterates these ideas to himself, he boosts his confidence to handle the day's new difficulties: "Thou has been a refuge for me ... I will dwell in thy tabernacle for ever." Reciting what we know about God praises the almighty and pleases our own need for security. God did it before and will surely do it again.
However, when we read these words today, the power of David's faith and trust rubs off on us, too. We get infected, so to speak. This is not some blind transfer or imputation of faith, however. It is the power of story. We can read about David's deliverance in 1-2 Samuel. We can see his dark days and read his dark feelings in the psalms. Thus, when we read David's hope and confidence in this psalm, we experience his faith, too.
The reading of God's word is powerful in its working. It opens up hearts and builds faith. If you feel down, take the time to read David's cries for help and be comforted just as was David. God heard David then; he will hear you today.