RR Psalm 61:1-5 Part 2

Shalom,

Psalm 61:1 For the music director, on string instrument, of David. 2 Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer. 3 From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 4 For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength before the enemy. 5 Let me dwell in Your tent forever. Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

Our subject verses today are the same as yesterday, but with a totally different focus.  Let’s meditate on just the first half of verse 3.  It is made up of three phrases: 1) From the end of the earth.  2) I call to You.   3) In the faintness of heart.  Three distinctly different thoughts to express David’s condition.  Let’s examine them individually, and then put them back together.

Rabbi’s Note: As I wrote this, there was much to write on just the first two words of verse 3, so here it is.  The plan now is to continue the meditation tomorrow.  End RN.

“From the end of the earth” is made of two Hebrew words.  Earth (Aretz) is the second one.  The first is “Miq’tzeh.”  The “Mem” prefix indicates a noun form (a place) the Shoresh “Qa’tzeh” means “an extremity, border, outer edge, or frontier.”  David sees his position as being far away from the presence of God (outside the promised land, which he was).  Paul (the apostle) sees his own condition from entirely different perspective.  

Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.

There, at the end of Romans 8:39 Paul nailed it.  Nothing that is/was created shall separate us from the Eternal One.  God’s love (read that as “presence,” nothing shall separate us from the presence) of God that is in Messiah Yeshua.  Paul lived after the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of our Lord and Savior.  He had Yeshua and King David did not.  That’s a huge difference.  

From time to time, we may feel estranged from God, but His promise will not allow it.  Moses said it (Deuteronomy 31:6), Joshua heard it (Joshua 1:5), Isaiah confirmed it (Isaiah 41:10) and the Messianic rabbi who wrote the book of Hebrews repeated it (Hebrews 13:5).  We might feel separated from God, but God is faithfully close.  Psalm 145:18 Adonai is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.

Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed12-Aug 202629th of Av, 5786
De 18:6-13Hos 3-4 1 Ch 28Tit 2 (Jn 14)