Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You; when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:1-2)
There are some Jewish commentators who consider this psalm to be an extension of the one previous to this — a psalm interpreted to be prophetic in nature. Consequently, the opening words of this composition also have a prophetic tenor. This is particularly evident when considering David’s statement, “From the end of the earth I will cry to You.” To better appreciate this, we must consider that Moses had prophesied of a day when God’s people, as consequence of their idolatry, would be scattered throughout the world. It is written, “Then the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known” (Deuteronomy 28:64).
It is also recorded that living in these conditions and being under intense pressure would provoke God’s people to cry out to the Lord for deliverance. As it is written: “But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul (Deuteronomy 4:29). And so, speaking prophetically, David not only acknowledged his own circumstances and the confidence he had that God would hear and deliver him, he also described the scenario his descendants and kinsmen would be subjected to in the last days. When their hearts become overwhelmed with distress and they long to return to the Lord, they will cry out to Him from one end of the earth to the other.
True to His nature, He will hear and will respond. As it is written: “When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice … He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them” (Deuteronomy 4:30-31).
Think of it: 3500 years ago, God not only foreknew that His people would turn away from Him but He also knew that there would come a day when many would begin to turn back to Him. Through Moses and David, the promise of deliverance is established even if and when we find ourselves at the end of the earth. Even there, the cry of our heart will reach the ear of Heaven and, being a great and merciful Father, He will hear us and save us from our enemies. He will pull us out of the depths of our despair and lead us to the Rock, the Messiah, and secure our footing on the path that leads to life and blessing. There is no place so far away, no sin so great, that He cannot hear and reach us. All we must do is, with a sincere and humble heart, cry out to Him.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
Recent Comments