The Cry, The Need, The Help

The Cry, The Hope, The Help

Psalms 61

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING: - The book of Psalms expresses worship, encourages us to praise God for who He is and what He has done. It illuminates the greatness of God, affirms His faithfulness, and presents His loving kindness toward us despite of our shortcoming, hopelessness, depression, anxiety and emotional unease.

I like the book of Psalms because they give a voice and a verse to the emotions we often experience and ask the questions that we either are afraid to ask or have been conditioned not to ask like God is intimidated by our questions.

Psalms 61 is a song of struggle, desire, hope along with being a psalm of true relational intimacy and a close personal dwelling with God. It is a Psalm of protection, commitment and praise.

Many many years ago I will never forget when I first learned this song during a revival in Elyria Ohio and Dr. Violet Fisher taught it to us just before she bought forth the word and down through the years it has become one of my favorite songs and Psalms.

Psalms 61 is a perfect Psalm because there are 7 points of interest that I want to bring out. 1. The Cry, 2. The Need, 3. The Desire, 4. The Protection, 5. The Relationship, 6. The Commitment, 7. The Praise. Then close with New Beginnings because there are 8 things to remember during times of being overwhelmed.

The Cry, The Hope, The Help

PRAYER

SCRIPTURE: - Psalms 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. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations. He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. So, I will sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows”.

BACKGROUND:- Psalms 61 is a Psalm that is attributed to David and as you know David was often in trouble physical, spiritually, and emotionally although we don’t know for certain what the issue was when he wrote this particular Psalm we understand that God wanted this Psalm to be understood, sung, and prayed by the people of God regardless of the circumstances that causes us to be overwhelmed.

TEXT: - I want to break this passage of scripture down and feast upon the beautiful, poetic, and heartfelt scripture that is before us.

TEXT: - Verses 1-2 says, “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”. THE CRY: - This is not that passive prayer you pray just before you climb into bed, and you say your prayers more out of habit than out of necessity. This is a cry of desperation, desperation of being overwhelmed with the circumstances of life. I am not calling out of traditional prayers, I am not coming able to say to the highest, anointed, all powerful one that dwells between the Cherubim, surrounded by a host of angels that cry Holy Holy Holy day and night. Sure, the Bible says we must come boldly into His presence, but boldness does not equal arrogance, I’m not coming with a spirit of arrogance, but I am in a state of distress, pain and sorrow, tears are coming down my face and I am shouting out in a loud voice Lord, I need thee right now. This is not a disrespectful approach to the Throne of God but a cry of desperation, a cry that is suffering, a cry that is coming from the Deep of my soul and is reaching out the Deep of His resources. So, from the deep oppressive, deep overwhelming, deep anxieties of my circumstances my plea and cry is “Hear my cry O God”.

Then he makes a very unique statement “Attend unto my prayer”. This is wisdom because David understands that even though God hears all prayers, He is not going to answer all prayers, because He knows when our hearts aren’t in the right place and if we are praying a pray from our own lustful desires He is not going to answer that prayer, James 4:3 says, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lust”. So, he actively asks for God to respond – with a cry and plea Attend unto my prayer.