New: 9 February 2025
Finding Safety &
Stability in God
Psalm 31 (61)
Bow down Your ear to me,
deliver me speedily;
be my rock of refuge,
a fortress of defence to save me.
For You are my rock and my fortress;
Therefore, for Your name's sake,
lead me and guide me.
Psalm 31:2-3 NKJV
The Importance of Safety & Stability
Human history has been filled with upheavals and instability. Even today, in many parts of the world, there is great conflict and tragedy. Be it war and destruction with loss of life and the ruin of livelihoods and infrastructure, or political shifts that causes great changes to the detriment of many powerless people, the world is often a very unsafe and unstable place. It is, therfore, very important to find a place of safety and stability. The psalmist found it in God. David, in yet another powerful contemplation about God and prayer to God is addressing key issues we all need in life and challenges we are confronted with. He knew that the name of Yahweh is 'a strong tower' and the righteous who run to Him are save (Proverbs 18:10). God gave him safety and stability.
The Rock & the Fortress
The word 'rock' has important symbolic meaning in Scripture. It speaks of stability and safety. It is contrasted with unstable paths and slippery slops. Figuratively speaking, we choose the surface we want to walk on in life. We know we want stability, yet often do irresponsible things that lead to ruin. Jesus spoke of a wise man who built his house on a rock, and He contrasted him with a foolish men who built his house on sand. Both houses had to withstand tests of stability; one stood firm, the other collapsed (Matthew 7:23-27). This illustrates life in simple but profound terms. One of Jesus' lead apostles was renamed 'Rock' (Matthew 16:18; John 1:42) to indicate stability through knowing the Son of God and receiving revelation-understanding directly from the Father. God wants us to have safety and stability in and be a good, solid and reliable person in our families and societies.
The medieval castles and fortresses, predominately in Europe, are witnesses to the importance of safety and stability in uncertain times. They were symbols of power and security. War-torn nations built these structures as key assets to defend their lands and provide protection from invaders. The Chinese built the 'Great Wall' of China for the same reasons. In our modern world, there are military basis of a similar nature, although warfare has changed drastically. Cyber security is the big thing in our technological world where much is at stake, especially economically. The principle remains the same: people need safety and security. The rock an the fortress in Scripture illustrate this within the context of their time.
As it was then, so it is today. Life has many challenges with enemies (Psalm 31:8), troubles and grief (vv 9-10) and slander (vv 11-13) making our lives difficult, at times unbearable. Our hearts are 'overwhelmed' (Psalm 61:2) and everything is too much! We need 'the rock that is higher than I,' a place of safety and stability above all the struggles of life. Both Psalm 31 and 61 (and others) speak of these real-life struggles and over real-life solutions. God is 'shelter' and 'strong tower' from enemies (Psalm 61:3) who will keep us safe (v 4). He is 'my rock and my fortress' (Psalm 31:3). The psalmist trusted in the power of His Name (Psalm 31:3; 61:5, 8). The 'God of truth' would deliver him and redeem him, by pulling his feet 'out of net' (Psalm 31:4-5), the traps peolle set for us and the dangers they try to destabilise our lives with. God can be trusted.
Hear my cry, O God;
attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth
I will cry to You,
when my heart os overwhelmed;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:1-2
Trusting God when Life is Overwhelming
In life it is important to have perspective when everything gets overwhelming. Sometimes, we seem to be drowning and see no way out. People panic and act irrationally in emotions that are out of control. Big mistakes are made and great tragedy can occur. There is a better way to handle life: gain a perspective above the troubles of life. As we noted before, there is our perception of life, on the one hand, and then there is a fresh perspective, on the other, such that opens up options and possibilities not seen or considered before. When our emotions get heavy from negative thoughts, it is vital we find that 'rock that is higher than I' (Psalm 61:2), the place of gaining divine perspective. When life is 'too much,' our hearts are overwhelmed within us (Psalm 61:2), we spend our days with grief, our strength fails and we feel we are wasting away (Psalm 31:9-10), it is vital to trust God and call on His Name. What goes on inside of us, even more important than what goes on around us. Guard your heart (Proverbs 4:23). There is a way out of the pit (place of intolerable trouble).
'But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
My times are in Your hand;
Deliver me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.
Make Your face shine upon Your servant;
Save me for Your mercies' sake.'
Trusting God is important, proclaiming Him as our God is vital (Psalm 31:14). It is a confession of faith on whom we reply and to whom we look for help. We commit our spirit into His hands (v 5a; cf., Luke 23:46) and know that our time is in His hands (Psalm 31:15). We trust God; we surrender to Him; and we relay on Him for deliverance. This is the important inner condition of our heart and mind, from which all issues of life (decisions, responses, conclusions) flow; guard it! How you respond to what happened to you is more important than what happened to you. Act wisely.
When life is overwhelming and grief weighs us down, we are tempted to say things that we later regret and things that contradict our trust in God. David was aware of this: 'For I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried our to You' (Psalm 31:22). Emotional speech in haste based on a seemingly hopeless situation can be destructive and deceptive. It may appear as if God is not around; that He doesn't hear our prayer; or that help is absent. But this is not so. Despite the hasty conclusion (thinking He was cut off), David knew that God heard his prayer! It is vital to believe when all things look to the contrary and unjust. David experienced the goodness of God because he trusted Him (v 19). There its a 'secret place' where God hides us from strife and slander (v 20). He will show us mercy and kindness (v 21).
'Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints!
For the LORD preserves the faithful,
and fully repays the proud person.
Be of good courage,
and He shall strengthen your heart,
all you who hope in the LORD.'
There is strength and courage in God when we trust Him and hope in Him! He is a righteous and just God, we can reply in Him to bring forth justice despite all enemies, troubles, grief, slander and heartbreak. God is faithful. He is a rock we can trust and reply on. David knew that God hears prayers and will bless him with long life (Psalm 61:6) so that he could sing praises to His name forever (v 8). God has a heritage for those who honour and never His Name (v 5b). It is important that we remain faithful to God and keep our vows (v 5a, 8b). Trust God when life is overwhelming and see His goodness come through for you. No matter what goes on around you, trust the rock and fortress of your life. Look to Him who is just and reliable, like a light house in the raging sea. There is safety and stability in trusting God.
As for the Rock,
his work is perfect,
for all his ways are just.
He is a reliable God
who is never unjust,
he is fair and upright.
Deuteronomy 32:4 NET
Stability & Justice
David suffered hardships and injustice. So did others, like Moses for example. Yet in all this, the great Law-giver of Israel know that the Rock is just, upright and reliable (Deuteronomy 32:4). Justice is an important part of stability. Corrupt nations fall apart to the ruin of all. Our lives will also fall apart if we choose the ways of sin and falsehood. We must trust God and live by the moral standards He prescribed. There will be justice for both the faith and the proud (Psalm 31:23). Although things look so bad because of corruption, both on a personal and national level, God is just and reliable in the midst of it all.
Jesus: Trusting God despite Injustice
Jesus suffered the greatest pain after the worst kind of injustice. The innocent One was crucified in the place of criminals. The whole court case was fake and flawed, and the presiding authorities knew it! This is how corruption works: the innocent get punished, the guilty ones get away with it.
'And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit'." Having said this, He breathed His last' (Luke 23:46).
Jesus quoted words from Psalm 31 (v 5a). He found reassurance in the words of David from long ago. The Word of God never perishes. Its truth preserves us and gives us courage to face even the worst of suffering and pain. Jesus made God His rock, fortress and strong tower. He surrender His life to God and gave it up for us all. We were all like sheep going astray, yet the Great Shepherd and Chief Guardian brought us back to God when the Just One died for the unjust sinners (1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:18). Christ's sacrifice was redeeming love.
Jesus was crucified with criminals art either side (Luke 23:33). One mocked Him, the other turned to Him in humility for mercy. Jesus assured Him that he would be with Him in Paradise (vv 39-43). This is the redeeming love of the Gospel, that Christ died for our sin (1 Corinthians 15:3); that Christ died for sinners (Romans 5:8); and that Christ same to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). In doing so, Jesus trusted God to be his safety and stability, committing His spirit, His life and future, into the hands of just and reliable God. Focus on and trust the One who is reliable, a rock of stability and a fortress of safety.