A Request For Protection

O God, listen to my cry!

Hear my prayer!

From the ends of the earth,

I cry to you for help

when my heart is overwhelmed.

Lead me to the towering rock of safety,

for you are my safe refuge,

a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.

Let me live forever in your sanctuary,

safe beneath the shelter of your wings!

Psalm 61:1-4

As the commander of Israel’s armies, David was an expert at analyzing an enemy’s defenses and planning fortifications. Under David’s leadership, the strong fortress of Zion (later called Jerusalem) was captured from the Jebusites. And after he captured it, David oversaw the building of additional fortifications around Zion (2 Samuel 5:6-10). But David didn’t place his trust in the fortress he had built. He knew God was his true “towering rock of safety.” There was no safer refuge than the Lord’s sanctuary—the presence of the Almighty.

Although we might not realize it, we are just as vulnerable as King David was. We need to be led to God’s rock of safety. Run to the Almighty in prayer and trust in him to keep you safe.

• O God, lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge . . .