In Psalm 61, David prays for help in a time of trial. He is worn out by his unspecified ordeal. "My heart is faint," he says in verse 2.
He also feels as if he is far away from God. "From the end of the earth I call to you," he says. The midrash on Psalm 61 notes God's promises to hear the prayers of his people even when they have gone astray and are in exile---in other words, no matter how far away they are (Dt 4:27-31; Jer 29:12-13).
He seeks protection from "the rock that is higher than I" (v 2), which may be a reference both to God and to his sanctuary, in light of verses 3-4. In verse 3, he describes God as a refuge and strong tower. In verse 4, he expresses a desire to "dwell in your tent forever," a sentiment that reminds us of Psalm 26:8 and Psalm 84:10. The midrash on Psalm 61 suggests that David hopes he will be in the sanctuary forever in the sense that his psalms would continually be sung there.
He is confident that God will deliver him, and that he will have the opportunity to express his gratitude by fulfilling the vows he has made in his time of trial (verses 5-8).
He also prays that his dynasty will continue forever (verses 6-7), which can be seen as a prayer for the fulfillment of the promise of the coming of the Messiah.
No comments:
Post a Comment