"Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place"

Psalms 61

Anyone who has ever studied the life of David knows he endured countless set backs throughout his lifetime. He was counted out by his family, hated by Saul, and betrayed by his own son. In fact, Psalms 61 was penned when David found himself far away from his home in Jerusalem. He had run away after being betrayed by his son Absalom.

I find it interesting that the cause of David being away from the thing he loved most was caused by someone who was supposed to love him. Betrayal is bad enough but when it comes from within your own house I would imagine it is worse. This no doubt was a hard thing to swallow, as well a hard place for David.

With a broken heart David lacked the strength to fight. Even if he wanted to fight; what was he supposed to do? After all this was his son. David must have felt like he was caught between a rock and a hard place. It is from this hard place that David writes one of the most heartfelt prayers ever written.

His eyes filled with tears he reveals to us what we should do when caught between a rock and a hard place. It matter not that he was the king. Rather he understood regardless of his accomplishments and or his position he could still experience a hard place. He understood that his calling did not exempt him from the hard place rather it qualified him to endure it.

No doubt David was caught in a terrible dilemma for which he could have blamed God. Nevertheless, with the little strength he had left he humbly lifts his soul to God for help. David writes in verse 2 “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I”.

Wow! Lead me to a place where I can see this thing from a different perspective. Lead me to a place where there is strength for me to endure. Lead me to a place in you that goes beyond my own comprehension.

The expression “caught between a rock and a hard place stresses (1) that there are two forces which are restricting one’s movement. (2) It is to have you in a position that causes you to make a choice you don’t want to make.

However, David in Psalms 61 gives us the solution for both scenarios.

1. When we know who the rock is; the hard place can no longer restrict our movement. In other words we don’t have to succumb to the things, which come to take our strength.

2. We have a choice in the matter. Because Jesus is our refuge we can refuse to stay bound. David could have laid there and died; instead he chose life.

We must remember that even in difficult times we have liberty to call on and draw near to God. Lord, teach us to rest between “the rock” (Jesus) and our hard places. And like David let us begin with prayer so that we can end with praise.

God Bless,

Rev. Melva