Well, let us turn to the portion we were reading in these two Psalms. We read Psalm 61 and Psalm 62. And I'll read again the opening words in Psalm 61. The first two verses in Psalm 61. Hear my cry, O God. Attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee. when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Each of the Psalms bears that title, a Psalm of David and yet truly in each of the Psalms we really have what are prayers Here in the opening words of 61, hear my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer. And then in 62, truly my soul waiteth upon God, from him cometh my salvation. And so whilst they are Psalms, that's what the title tells us, yet we know that they're also prayers. And Isn't that quite a remarkable beauty that we discover when we come to this part of Holy Scripture? The great beauty of the Psalms, God's words to us, it's part of the inspired scriptures, the word of the Lord, and yet it consists in the words of believers as they are addressing themselves to God. It's a book of prayers as well as a book Psalms and Calvin says of course that it is in fact a manual of Christian experience and isn't that the mark of the Christian, the man who cries, the man who calls upon the name of the Lord. But it's not only a manual of Christian experience. It's not only an experimental book, we know it's also prophetic and messianic. And as we turn to these words that we've just read in the opening part of the 61st Psalm, I want to take up the theme of Christ as that high rock. Here is the prayer, the particular petition that David is making at the end of verse 2, lead me to the rock. that is higher than I. And first of all to try to understand something of the situation, the circumstances that Dave was in that brought him to speak to the Lord God in such a manner as we have in this psalm and in the 62nd psalm. He speaks of addressing God from the end of the earth From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee when my heart is overwhelmed, is what he says. And again, in verse 6 we find an interesting statement if we read with the margin. The marginal reading there in the 6th verse says, Thou shalt add days to the days of the king's life. trying to establish then, from what's in the Psalms, something of the circumstances that caused David to pray in such a manner, feeling his heart to be so overwhelmed. What was the situation? And I think in many ways the key is found in what we have there in that sixth verse, particularly if we follow that marginal reading. He's asking God to add days to the days of his kingship, which would appear to indicate that this must have been the time when his throne was under some threat. And we know that that was the case, of course, in those events that are recorded in the second book of Samuel with regards to the rebellion of his beloved son Absalom. Absalom stole the hearts of the people and then was seeking to steal the throne from his father David. And we have the record, particularly in that 15th Psalm in the second book of Samuel, and the language that David speaks, When someone comes and says to him, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom, verse 13. Verse 14, David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee, for we shall not else escape from Absalom. makes thee to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. And so David is fleeing, his life is under threat, he's expecting that the kingdom will fall. And then as he's fleeing in verse 30, David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, that his head covered And he went barefoot, and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up weeping as they went. And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. Ahithophel, of course, his great friend, his counselor, And his counsel was as the oracle of God, we're told. And yet even this man has fallen in, and David is expecting that his life will yet be taken. And so we have this prayer in verse 6. Thou shalt have days to the days of the king, says David. And his years, as many generations, he's looking to God to preserve his life. in spite of this great conspiracy that's coming to the very heart of his family, and not only that, but has also involved his great friend and counselor Ahithophel. I know we've looked in times past at the content of another psalm, Psalm 55, that clearly speaks of the same incident. There in Psalm 55, verse 12, David says, it was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne it. Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me, then I would have hid myself from him. But he was Thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together and walked unto the house of God in company. What a sad situation it was. No wonder we read of David weeping as he flees from the city of Jerusalem and so here he's overwhelmed as he says in that second verse from the end of the earth will I crown to thee when my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher than I If that's David's situation, how can we in any sense relate to the things that David is saying? We know that these things are written for our learning, we're told that by the apostle, that we through patience or endurance and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Can we not then understand the words that we have in the psalm in a figurative sense, as we seek to understand how this would relate to us? We have that word in Isaiah 45, 22, Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else. Clearly it's a prophecy of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ going forth and going out to all the Gentile nations even to the ends of the earth. But I know in preaching on that text Mr. Philpott also interprets it in a spiritual sense, and saying there that it is the experience of the people of God. At times in their feelings, they come to that conclusion, they're at the ends of the earth, they're overwhelmed by their situation, when they're brought under the conviction of sin, when they have that awful sense of their sinnership before God, They feel not so much individual sins, but they feel something of their own fallen nature. That's the root, of course, of all their sin. The very nature that they're born into this world with. They're dead in trespasses and sins, and where there is that spirit of life that comes from God, that quickening, that gracious operation of the Holy Ghost in the soul, there is then some realization, some sense of sinnership. And they feel as if it's an overwhelming experience. My heart is overwhelmed, the psalmist says. It's something that we find time and again in the language of the psalmist. We see it, for example, in the 40th psalm and the language that we have there at verse 12. for innumerable evils have compassed me about my iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up they are more than the hairs of my head therefore my heart paleth me isn't this sometimes the experience of God's people then when there seems to be no way of escape no way to turn Again in Psalm 65 and verse 3, Iniquities prevail against me, says David. Or these are my chief enemies. And the root cause here, of course, time and again, is that sense of what they are, their awful sinnership. Sin is very much of the creature. And yet we know that that sense of sin can only come from God, and comes by that gracious work of the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost in His gracious quickenings. And Paul certainly knew it, certainly felt it. I know that in me, he says, that is in my flesh, there dwelleth no good thing. To will is present with me. But how to perform that which is good, he says, I find not, O wretched man, that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death. The language that we have there in Psalm 7, and it's evident that at that time Paul was a spiritual man. He says, doesn't he, on another occasion in the same chapter, I delight in the law of God after the inward man, but I see another law in my members, bringing me into the bondage of sin. This is the conflict that the child of God feels so acutely. And it was there, as I say, in the experience of the apostle himself. Overwhelmed then, overwhelmed by that realization, that sense of sin. But also, of course, in the experience of the godly, overwhelmed because at times they're made to feel something of that darkness as well as that deadness of their sins those who have enjoyed something of God and the presence of God will lament when they feel there's a departing when they've known the light and yet now the light seems to have departed and they feel the darkness so gloomy poor old Job knew something of that experience he could look back and he could remember better days, but then he was now in the very grip of Satan. And he knew not, of course, at that time, it's not till the end of the book that he realizes that God's in all these things. And yet God is not the author of his sad state, it's the work of Satan. But look at the language that we find Job using in the 29th chapter. and there at verse 2, or that I were, he says, as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me, when his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness, as I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle, or when God was coming to him and graciously revealing himself to him, showing him precious truths and yet those days had passed and it's not just the experience of Job it's repeated time and again in the in the book of Psalms not just David but Asaph and the language that we have there in the 77th Psalm verse 7 Asaph says will the Lord cast off forever Will he be favorable no more? Is his mercy clean gone forever? Doth his promise fail forevermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. Surely the Selah is not without significance here. It is something for us to pause and to consider. All the experiences of the God Isaiah 50 and verse 10 that great portion at the end of that chapter and remarkable sermons on those verses at the end of Isaiah 50 by the Puritan Thomas Goodwin and also again by J.C. Philpott the child of heaven walking in darkness and the child of light walking in light is what they speak of in expounding the language there, who is among you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his guard or when God's people are in that situation overwhelmed overwhelmed by the sense of their sin and the darkness that still seems to come and creep all over them and they are cast down remember the language that we have in the 42nd and 43rd Psalms why art thou cast down O my soul? why art thou disquieted with him? hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God iniquities prevail against me and so here the language that David is using we can surely by the grace of God and the Lord's dealings with us understand something of it from the end of the earth will I cry unto thee when my heart is overwhelmed and what is the solution a limb into the rock that is higher This is the content end of his prayer really. This is the chief part of his prayer. And so let us for a while consider what he is saying here. And I have just two points really to speak on. To say something with regards to the rock. And then secondly to remark on the request that is being made. This is his petition. Hear my cry oh God. attend unto my prayer from the end of the earth will I cry unto thee when my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher than I and then of course we have it again in the 62nd psalm we've read the two psalms because they do in many ways form quite a striking pair the second verse in psalm 62 he only is my rock and my salvation, He is my defense, I shall not be greatly moved. And then again, verses 6 and 7, He only is my rock and my salvation, He is my defense, I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory, the rock of my strength and my refuge is in God. Oh, there is an emphasis very much on the rock. But what are we to make of the rock? Well, we're told, aren't we, in 1 Corinthians 10 and verse 4 concerning that rock that followed the children of Israel in all their wilderness wanderings. Paul tells us quite specifically that spiritual rock, and that rock was Christ, he says. That rock was Christ. that was the rock there in Israel as Moses leads them forth out of Egypt through the wilderness into the promised land and when we come to the end of the books of Moses Deuteronomy 32 the song of Moses and there at verse 4 he is the rock his work is perfect for all his ways are judgments the gods of truth And without iniquity, just and right is hay. And then when we come to the New Testament, well, we're told, aren't we, that that rock is the very foundation of the church. When Peter makes his confession there in Caesarea Philippi concerning Jesus of Nazareth, thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And the Lord tells him it's not something that flesh and blood has revealed to him. It's not of himself. It's not of men. It's a revelation from God. Peter is speaking then the very Word of God, thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And the Lord says upon this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail. against it. Well, David knew something of that rock, surely he did. For that rock was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ himself. And here we have it. David says, higher than I. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. And We know it's Christ because the psalm is surely a messianic psalm. Look at the words that we have in verse 6 and the beginning of verse 7. Thou wilt prolong the king's life, and his years as many generations. He shall abide before God forever. Who is this king? Well, here it's the Lord Jesus Christ, it's the truth of His resurrection, it's the truth of His ascension, it's the truth of His session now at the Father's right hand. Thou wilt prolong the King's life, and His yours as many generations. We have the language previously in the 16th Psalm, Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, the realm of the dead, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to seek corruption. He's raised again from the dead. He sees no corruption. His life is preserved, prolonged for many generations. The Lord Jesus Christ is the one that is here, David's greater son, that one who is higher than David. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name that is above every name. lead me to that rock then says David that is higher than I what do we have here what are we reminded of well we're reminded of the authority the power of the Lord Jesus Christ in Psalm 62 and verse 11 God hath spoken once twice have I heard this the power belongeth unto God and it is in Christ that that power is now demonstrated. All power is given unto me, he says, in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. We know the passage there at the end of Matthew's Gospel. Oh, this is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is at blessed and only potentate, the King of kings and the Lords of lords. We see him there in the book of the Revelation. He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords, and he goes forth conquering and to conquer. God has put all things under his feet. and given him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body. The fullness of him that filleth all in all. We're familiar with all these various scriptures and what do they tell us? They tell us that it is Christ who has the authority, it is Christ who has the power. And this is Anno Domini, this is the year of our Lord. It is still that dispensation of the grace of God. And how favoured, how blessed we are that we live in such a day. And many times we might bewail the day and fear it to be a day of small things. And how did David feel many occasions? Crying unto God from the end of the earth, his heart overwhelmed. But where would he have God to lead him to that rock? Or that one who has all power and all authority? And that one who is all wise? David had a wise son. Remember what we're told there in 1 Kings 3, when God appears to Solomon when he first comes to the throne, when he's established as king, and he makes that wise choice. He asks the Lord God to grant him wisdom. And what wisdom was granted to King Solomon? We're told again in 1st King chapter 10 at verse 24 that all the earth it says, swords to Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had put in him. Isn't he a remarkable type of the Lord Jesus Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Well this is the one that we have to look to then. for wisdom, for understanding in the midst of all those things that bring so much confusion into our lives and so trouble us and disturb us and we're perplexed and at times we wonder what the Lord's doing with us, what the Lord's saying to us we know His way is in the seas His path is in the... or His footsteps are in the deep waters or His footsteps are not known says the psalmist there's a mystery in all God's ways and we have to look to Christ the wisdom from above which is first pure and then peaceable and gentle and easy to be entreated and full of mercy and good fruits and without partiality and without hypocrisy or that our lives were governed by that sort of wisdom it's all in the Lord Jesus Christ who of God is made unto his people wisdom Lead me then to the rock that is higher than I. Says David, he wants to know something of the gracious authority of Christ, the wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that great salvation, that safety that is in the Lord Jesus Christ. He says in verse three, thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle forever, I will trust in the covet of thy wings. The only place of safety is under the shadow of His wings, one who will protect His people. For safe to the rock that is higher than I, my soul in it conflicts and sorrows will fly, says the Old Hymn. That's the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember when Moses would have God to show him something of his glory. He wanted to be reassured God had spoken of disinheriting the people. They'd sinned so grievously in the matter of the golden calf. Whilst he was there in the mount with God receiving all those commandments. They'd had the ten commandments. God had spoken the ten words to them directly. But they wanted one to be a mediator. And Moses was the mediator. And he's gone into the mount and they... What now? What's become of him? And his brother Aaron makes the golden calf and they're going to worship God so they think. Wicked syncretism, you see. Mixing idols with the imagined worship of God. And Moses comes down from the mount and he breaks the tables at ten commandments at the base of the mount there. The covenant is broken. They've broken the covenant. And God will disinherit them. But Moses pleads and prays. He's a real mediator. Wonderful type of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he asks God to reassure him that he will not do this thing, but he will go before them. And he wants God to show him his glory. And what does God do? He says, there's a place by me, and they shall stand upon a rock. And then we're told there in Exodus 33 out, the Lord puts him in a cliff in the rock and the Lord passes by. Oh, it's in the Lord Jesus Christ. It's only in Christ that there can be that blessed safety and that blessed security. The rock. The rock is Christ. And then finally, to say something with regards to the request. What does he say? Lead me to the rock. He's not able. He's not able to put himself on the rock. It's not a matter, if we might use the image, it's not a matter of a man's ability at mountaineering, to climb the rock face. No, he can't do this. It's all of God, it's all of grace. It was so with Moses. as God says there there's a place by me thou shalt stand upon a rock but God's the one who puts him there in that cliff of the rock where he stands no man can come to me says the Lord Jesus except the Father draw him and that was the great offense wasn't it at the end of John 6 when the multitude slowly drift away from him They're offended, you see, at divine sovereignty. It's all of God. It's all of grace. And so it is here. God must do it. Lead me. Lead me to the rock. Oh, David is praying. As I said at the beginning, it's a psalm. Yes, it's a psalm of David. But it's a prayer of David. Hear my cry, O God. Attend unto my prayer. from the end of the earth will I cry unto them when my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher than I all we must pray and so too in that sixty second psalm the opening words there truly he says my soul waiteth upon God from him cometh my salvation. And then he says it again in verse five, my soul wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him. What is it to wait upon God? Isn't that prayer? I like, I like these comments. Bernard Gilpins, he says, waiting expresses the most lively exercise of hope and prayer combined. To wait is not being passive. The weight upon God is not being passive, it's not inactivity. It's a lively exercise of hope and prayer combined together, or that we might come then with that spirit, that spirit of hope, that spirit of expectation. We come together Thursday by Thursday, our express intention is to pray, is to unite in prayers before the throne of grace and to plead that God will come and appear amongst us. Oh, the Lord favour us then with such a spirit as we see in David. This is the man after God's own heart. And what is David's prayer? Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. May the Lord bless his word to us. Let us Before we do praise, sing our second praise, the hymn is number 1104, the tune to God be the glory, 1011. Convinced as a sinner to Jesus I come, informed by the gospel for such there is room. Oh, wow me with sorrow, for sin will I cry, lead me to the rock. that is higher than I. 1104, June 10, 11.