Homilist Psalm 61:1-8 Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.… I. A DEEP SENSE OF ISOLATION. "From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee." Few feelings are more saddening than the feeling of lonelihood. It hangs like a cold leaden cloud over the heart. In this lonelihood, and far away from the scenes of his home and populations of men, he prays. The Great Father is accessible in all seasons of the soul, and all points of space. II. A FELT NEED FOR DIVINE HELPS. Many things would tend to overwhelm the heart of David with sorrow — the conduct of Absalom his son, the treachery of professed friends, the disorders of his country, and, above all, remorse on account of the many wrong things he had done and which had perhaps brought all these distresses upon him. Under such a load of sadness, he feels that his only hope is in God. The soul in its sorrow requires something outside of itself and greater, and there is a Rock for tempest-tossed souls. III. A YEARNING FOR LOST PRIVILEGES. "I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever." He was far away from this tabernacle now, — a scene where he had often worshipped and experienced the raptures of religion. Profoundly does he feel the loss, and hence he resolves on his return to abide there, not only to visit it occasionally, but to continue as a resident, "dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life." When there, he had felt like the young bird under the wing of its parent, warm, safe, and happy; and this privilege he yearned for again. "I will trust in the covert of Thy wings." It is an old adage, that "the well is not missed until it is dried up." The loss of blessings is evermore the means of deepening our impressions as to their value. IV. AS ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF DIVINE KINDNESS (ver. 5). The "heritage" mentioned is participation in the honours and privileges of the chosen people, and such were indeed great (Romans 9:4, 5). What a heritage! And this David acknowledges as being given to him by God. Whatever privileges we have, personal, social, political, or religious, our "heritage" is the gift of God. V. AN ASSURANCE OF FUTURE PROSPERITY. "Thou wilt prolong the king's life." He seems to have been assured of two things. 1. The lengthening of his rule as a king. "Thou wilt prolong the king's life" — add days to that reign which was nearly brought to an abrupt termination. 2. The continuation of his privileges as a saint. "He shall abide before God for ever." These two things he seems to have been assured of — that he should live for years, and for years to come enjoy the presence of his God. Blessed assurance this! VI. A CRY FOR MORAL EXCELLENCE. "Mercy and truth." These are the cardinal virtues. "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." A soul full of benevolence and in harmony with eternal realities. In this all good is comprised. Herein Paradise blooms and blossoms. The profoundest hunger Of all souls should be for these two things, grace and truth. Having these, all else follows. VII. A RESOLUTION TO WORSHIP FOR EVER. Worship is the highest end of being. Religion, or worship, is not the means to an end, it is the grandest end of existence. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: {To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David.} Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. |
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