Lead Me To The Rock
(NIV) Psalm 61:1 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. 2 From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.
I was raised in church. Sitting between one aunt who sang soprano, and another who sang alto, I learned to love the songs we sang on Sunday morning, particularly those songs that mirrored Scripture. In fact, my love for God’s Word was probably birthed in me by singing the songs written in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. I easily memorized the songs of Fannie Crosby, Albert Brumley and others whose themes ranged from salvation to a heavenly destination.
I mourn the loss of these songs of the faith. There are probably two generations who will never know the joy of singing “I’ll Fly Away” or the peace of “How Great Thou Art.” And with the passing of these songs, many of which were intrinsically tied to the Word of God, we are witnessing the growth of biblical illiteracy.
David understood the importance of song. King Saul, plagued by depression and paranoia, could only be calmed by hearing songs praising the One, True and Living God.
I learned years ago as I visited folks in nursing homes that diseases which robbed people of their memories were powerless to steal the comfort found in singing “ I Love to Tell the Story,” or “Victory in Jesus.” They clung to these songs like a lifeline, and I realized that the diseases which viciously attacked the brain had less power over the heart.
David’s prayer encompasses truths we would do well to remember: there is no place on earth where we cannot find God’s presence, the God of our youth is still the God of our old age, and just as He has delivered us before, He will do so again.
Jesus is the rock of our salvation, and a very present help in the time of need. May we continue to allow the songs pointing us to Jesus to reverberate in our hearts and may these old songs inspire us to fall in love once more with God’s holy word.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
- Posted in: Blogs
Seeking Holiness 