The Rock that is Higher than I

By Chaplain Thomas Meade

“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.”  – Psalm 61:2

Just as David cried out to God due to the distresses happening in his life, he still put his faith and trust in God. But, let us not forget that David is also human, an emotional being, having his moments just as we all have (see Psalm 22:1, David’s cry of humanity—the human condition), and felt that God had perhaps abandoned him. God is with us even though at times it feels differently.

From the ends of the earth I call to you. 

Like David, we too may feel as if we are in a distant land because our lives are different than how we have always known—it seems to be turned upside down and we may feel alone. David also felt this way when he was being pursued by King Saul, and during the days when his own son Absalom was in rebellion towards him.

I call as my heart grows faint.

The human heart desires and seeks relief in times of anguish (mental or physical) having a heavy burden. COVID-19 is a serious matter and has brought much distress in our lives. David cries out to the Rock who has been with him while a young lad tending the flock and protecting them by slaying lions, bears, and Goliath—with the the Lord strengthening him. God is there with him and is only a prayer away (Daniel 9:23) and so David in his faint of heart illustrates in this verse the power of prayer as he begins with tears and ends with praise (Psalm 61:1-8).  

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

The Rock is the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4; Psalm 89:26) and He is that same Rock yesterday, today, and forever, He does not change (Hebrews 13:8). Our Rock is more powerful than any pandemic, as has been shown throughout history from many pestilence that plagued the earth such as the Black Death, aka the bubonic plague which is “similar” in kind to COVID 19 and the lessons learned from those 100s of years of pandemic infectious disease, are being used in today’s pandemic. Let us all learn to be “still” finding encouragement and comfort in knowing that God is in control in His words, “Be still and know that I Am God…” Psalm 46:10a.  As the old adage reflects upon difficulties from times passed in life states, “This too shall pass.”  We shall overcome this pandemic and let us cry out to our Rock in our times of distress and like David shall find comfort and peace. 

Prayer: Mighty God and Father, we are thankful for these lessons from Your Word that we may take deep within our hearts and know that You are with us just like as with David in his dry and distant land of distress. The ultimate lessoned learned is that you are with us like your servant David and will help us, we firmly trust, in Jesus precious name, amen!