Big Idea: In prayer we are led to God our Rock, and to a higher plane of faith and trust.

Understanding the Text

Psalm 61 is an individual lament.1The reader is not informed about the problem, except that it is evidently, like the occasion for Psalms 42–43, related to the psalmist’s “foe” (61:3b). Not generally included in the royal psalms, it nevertheless contains the beautiful prayer on the king’s behalf in verses 6–7, or a prayer prayed by the king.

A backward glance at Psalm 60 and a forward glance at Psalm 62 reveal shared terms. Both Psalms 60 and 61 refer to the faithful as those who “fear” God (60:4; 61:5). Facing forward, Psalm 62 (62:2, 6–7) calls God “my rock,” in the same sense as 61:2, and both refer to God as “refuge” (61:3a; 62:7, 8). While these common terms may be coi…