Ain't No Rock

Ain’t No Rock

Psalm 61

Good morning,

In 2000, we hired a contractor to pour the foundation for our new home on the five acres we had purchased.

This contractor we hired said he was qualified, licensed, and had experience building homes.

We dug the footings, added the necessary rebar and the contractor built the forms for our new foundation.

The morning to pour the foundation came, the cement trucks arrived, the pumper truck arrived, and we had about six people to help with the process.

After pouring the concrete, we had to wait a few days for the foundation to cure. After waiting, we removed the form boards, only to discover that the foundation was not level.

The foundation was 1½ inches higher on one end. Imagine what would have happened if we had built the house without correcting the foundation.

All through scripture we have pictures of the Rock as a firm foundation.

Jesus said in…Matthew 7:24 whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

Matthew 7:25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

Matthew 7:26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

Matthew 7:27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." NKJV

Please open your Bibles to Psalm 61, as we continue that survey

Most people think David wrote Psalm 61 while running from his son. Absalom killed his brother Amnon the heir apparent, after Amnon raped Tamar and then Absalom wanted to be king.

Absalom gathered support and started a rebellion against his father David, which forced him to flee Jerusalem.

David had united the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel, but once Absalom rebelled, David became emotionally torn, between restoring his throne and preserving the life of his son.

I. The prayer of the broken.

Read Psalm 61:1

Warren Wiersbe said, “There was an urgency in David’s cry, he was overwhelmed by what was happening and fainting under the pressure.”

The LORD hears our prayers, even when they are spoken from our hearts when we cannot express our feelings with words. The LORD delights in answering prayers of brokenness.

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. NKJV

The LORD hears all of the prayers of those who belong to Him, but because He is full of compassion for His children, He is very attentive to us when we are broken and needy.

Jesus spoke a parable in Luke 18:10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.

Luke 18:12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'

Luke 18:13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'

Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

When we have exhausted all other options during a need or a crisis, we should learn to call out to the only One who loves us and can make a way, where there seems to be no way.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." NKJV

Jim Cymbala, in his book “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire” said,

“I discovered an astonishing truth: God is attracted to weakness. He can’t resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need Him”

The Lord has chosen to work through prayer, in order to teach us to talk to Him as well as to fully depend upon Him!

The One who placed the stars in the skies and called them by name, is not only able to hear and answer us, but He desires to.

God answers every prayer from His children, no matter what!

The LORD’s answers are given in His time, for His reasons, according to His will and good pleasure. Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes no, and sometimes wait!